Answer:
provided below!
Step-by-step explanation:
I. Spanish Colonization
- Began with the explorations of Christopher Columbus in the late 15th century.
- Regions like Mexico, Peru, Florida, and the Caribbean saw the establishment of colonies.
- Indigenous civilizations like the Aztecs and the Incas were conquered in large part by conquistadors like Hernán Cortés and Francisco Pizarro.
II. Impact on Indigenous Peoples
- Devastating effects brought on by illnesses, conflict, and forced labor.
- The encomienda system abused native labor.
- Indigenous populations have drastically decreased.
- forced Christian conversion through missionary work.
III. Economic and Cultural Exchange
- Columbian Exchange led to the exchange of crops (potatoes, tomatoes, etc.) between the Old and New Worlds.
- Silver and gold from the Americas enriched the Spanish Empire.
- Introduction of European culture and religion to the indigenous societies.
IV. Legacy
- A lasting impact on the demographics and culture of the Americas.
- Spanish language and Catholicism remain prominent.
- A complex legacy of both conquest and cultural exchange.