Conquistadores

Definition

Conquistadores were Spanish explorers and conquerors who played a significant role in the colonization of the Americas during the 15th and 16th centuries. They sought wealth, power, and land for Spain.

Related terms

Colonization: The process by which a country establishes control over another region or territory, often involving settlement and exploitation of resources.

Indigenous Peoples: Refers to the original inhabitants of a particular region or territory before it was colonized or settled by outsiders.

Encomienda System: A labor system implemented by the Spanish colonizers that granted them control over indigenous peoples' lands and forced their labor in exchange for protection.