What areas did the Spanish colonize?

Beginning with Columbus in 1492 and continuing for nearly 350 years, Spain conquered and settled most of South America, the Caribbean, and the American Southwest. Yeah, they kept themselves busy.

What 3 locations did the Spanish first colonize?

The first European countries to begin colonizing the Americas were Spain and Portugal. Spain claimed and settled Mexico, most of Central and South America, several islands in the Caribbean, and what are now Florida, California, and the Southwest region of the United States. Portugal gained control of Brazil.

Where did the Spanish colonize and what were their goals?

Motivations for colonization: Spain’s colonization goals were to extract gold and silver from the Americas, to stimulate the Spanish economy and make Spain a more powerful country. Spain also aimed to convert Native Americans to Christianity.

Where did the Spanish Empire expand to?

The Spanish Empire between 1492 and 1892, expanded across most of Central America, the Caribbean, Mexico, and much of North America. In its conquest of the New World, the Spanish subdued and defeated the Inca civilization of Peru, the Aztecs of Central America, and the Maya civilization of the Yucatan.

Why did the Spanish Empire fall?

Gold and silver from her massive American empire fueled Spanish dreams to wrest control of Italy and the Netherlands from France, and to spread Catholicism all across the world. And yet, 300 years later, the Treaty of Paris ended the Spanish-American War, and with it, the Spanish colonial empire died.

Did Spain colonize Mexico?

Colonial Mexico was part of the Spanish Empire and administered by the Viceroyalty of New Spain. Hernán Cortés had conquered the great empire of the Aztecs and established New Spain as the largest and most important Spanish colony.

How did the Spanish treat the Native Americans?

Natives were subjects of the Spanish crown, and to treat them as less than human violated the laws of God, nature, and Spain. He told King Ferdinand that in 1515 scores of natives were being slaughtered by avaricious conquistadors without having been converted.

How long did Spanish Empire last?

Spanish empire: 1492 – 1968 – Oxford Reference.

When did the Spanish start to colonize the Americas?

Beginning with the 1492 arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Caribbean and continuing control of vast territory for over three centuries, the Spanish Empire would expand across the Caribbean Islands, half of South America, most of Central America and much of North America (including present day Mexico, Florida and the Southwestern and Pacific …

What are the names of the countries that Spain colonized?

Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico (a U.S. territory, not an independent country), Uruguay, and Venezuela; Jamaica, the Philippines, and Trinidad, where English is now the official language and Spanish is no longer widely spoken;

Where was the first land conquered by the Spanish?

The Caribbean islands Hispaniola (which means ‘Little Spain’ and is today divided into Haiti and the Dominican Republic), Puerto Rico and Cuba were among the first American lands to be conquered. In 1512, the first Spaniards to settle on the American mainland did so in Panama.

Why did Spain want to colonize the New World?

Spanish colonial policies Shortly before the death of Queen Isabella I in 1504, the Spanish sovereigns created the House of Trade (Casa de Contratación) to regulate commerce between Spain and the New World. Their purpose was to make the trade monopolistic and thus pour the maximum amount of bullion into the royal treasury.