Final answer:
Conquistadors were Spanish explorers and soldiers who conquered territories such as the Aztec Empire and were granted rights to the labor or tribute from indigenous people through the encomienda system.
Step-by-step explanation:
Who Were the Conquistadors?
The conquistadors were Spanish explorers and soldiers who embarked on expeditions during the Age of Exploration, notably into the Americas. One famous conquistador was Hernán Cortés, who led the Spanish force that conquered the Aztec Empire between 1519 and 1521. These individuals were driven by the search for gold, riches, and profits, as well as the desire to spread their Roman Catholic faith. As a reward for their service and conquests, the Spanish Crown granted them encomiendas, which were rights to the labor or tribute from certain numbers of indigenous people. The encomienda system often led to the exploitation and abuse of the native populations.
The conquistadors were distinct from other social roles such as ranchers or revolutionaries like the followers of Pancho Villa. Through their conquests, the conquistadors played a significant role in expanding the Spanish Empire and colonizing the Americas. Their legacy includes both the spread of European culture and the significant disruption and often devastation of indigenous societies.
Cattle were introduced to the Americas by conquistadors, and the impact of their conquests is a topic that remains relevant in discussions about the history of the continent. Complete cultural and societal systems were displaced or irrevocably changed due to the conquests of the conquistadors.