What is a conquistador simple definition?

What is a conquistador simple definition?

Conquistador, (Spanish: “conqueror”) plural conquistadores or conquistadors, any of the leaders in the Spanish conquest of America, especially of Mexico and Peru, in the 16th century.

What is the purpose of a conquistador?

The Spanish conquistadors were essentially sanctioned pirates. Their goal was to claim land and resources for their investors and conquer natives of other lands for treasure and glory. They also were vital in the spread and enforcement of religion.

What is an example of a conquistador?

The two most famous conquistadors were Hernán Cortés who conquered the Aztec Empire and Francisco Pizarro who led the conquest of the Incan Empire. They were second cousins born in Extremadura, where many of the Spanish conquerors were born.

What are characteristics of a conquistador?

A conquistador is a person who is out to conquer new territory. A conquistador was the name given to the Fifteenth-to-Seventeenth century Spanish and Portugese soldiers who conquered much of the world, most famously the Central and Southern Americas.

Were conquistadors good or bad?

To some, the Spanish conquistadors were heroes. They bravely sailed into the unknown, gathered untold riches and wealth and spread Christianity to the New World. To others, the conquistadors were evil villains who slaughtered native empires, enslaved thousands, and cheated and stole great fortunes.

What bad things did conquistadors do?

They Spread Devastating Diseases Like previous European explorers before them, when the conquistadors landed in the Americas, they unknowingly spread smallpox. Since these diseases were new to the Aztec world, the epidemic spread quickly – eventually wiping out 90% of the indigenous population.

Which explorer had the greatest impact?

I would say that Christopher Columbus probably had the greatest impact on European exploration as he discovered a New World in the oceangoing search for a sea route to India and the presence of First Nations and he opened the way for such explorers, albeit ruthless, of Hernan Cortez and Pizarro who conquered Mexico and …

Who were the conquistadors for kids?

A Conquistador (English: Conqueror; : Conquistadores, or Conquistadors) was a Spanish soldier, explorer and adventurer. The Conquistadors invaded and conquered much of the Americas and the Philippines Islands and other islands in Asia Pacific. Many of them were hidalgos (noblemen of low category).

Who is the most famous adventurer?

Bold Souls: 12 Most Inspiring Adventurers Of All Time

  • Roald Amundsen. The Norwegian explorer was a prominent figure of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, as he was the first to navigate the Northwest Passage in 1906.
  • Jacque Cousteau.
  • Steve Fossett.
  • Yuri Gagarin.
  • Dale A.
  • Hugh Glass.
  • Bear Grylls.
  • Edmund Hillary.

Who is the first explorer in the world?

Ferdinand Magellan
Ferdinand Magellan (1480–1521) was a Portuguese explorer who is credited with masterminding the first expedition to circumnavigate the world. Magellan was sponsored by Spain to travel west across the Atlantic in search of the East Indies.

What are the good things that conquistadors did?

Their Arms and Armor Made Them Nearly Unbeatable. The Spanish conquistadors had many military advantages over the New World natives. The Spanish had steel weapons and armor, which made them nearly unstoppable, as native weapons could not pierce Spanish armor nor could native armor defend against steel swords.