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Conquistador: The term "conquistador" refers to the Spanish and Portuguese explorers and conquerors who played a significant role in the colonization of the Americas during the 15th to 17th centuries. These individuals, driven by a desire for wealth, power, and the spread of Christianity, embarked on expeditions to the New World. Conquistadors such as Hernán Cortés and Francisco Pizarro led military campaigns that resulted in the overthrow of indigenous civilizations, such as the Aztec and Inca empires, respectively. The conquistadors brought about profound cultural, social, and economic changes in the Americas, shaping the course of history and establishing European dominance in the region.
Mercantilism: Mercantilism was an economic system that dominated European thought and practice from the 16th to the 18th centuries. It was based on the belief that a nation's wealth and power depended on its accumulation of precious metals, particularly gold and silver. Mercantilist policies aimed to promote exports, limit imports, and establish colonies to provide raw materials and serve as markets for finished goods. Governments implemented measures such as tariffs, subsidies, and monopolies to protect domestic industries and maintain a favorable balance of trade. Mercantilism had a profound impact on European colonial expansion, trade relations, and the development of economic policies.
Hernando Cortés: Hernando Cortés was a Spanish conquistador who is best known for his conquest of the Aztec Empire in Mexico. In 1519, Cortés led an expedition to Mexico with the goal of finding wealth and expanding Spanish territory. He encountered the powerful Aztec civilization, led by Emperor Montezuma II, and eventually defeated them, establishing Spanish control over the region. Cortés' conquest of the Aztecs paved the way for Spanish colonization in Mexico and the wider Americas, resulting in significant cultural, social, and political changes.
Amerigo Vespucci: Amerigo Vespucci was an Italian explorer who played a crucial role in the early European understanding of the New World. Vespucci made several voyages to the Americas between 1499 and 1504, and his letters describing the lands he visited challenged