Final answer:
The first colonists to New Spain came predominantly from the mainland of Spain. Spain and Portugal were the leading forces in early transatlantic exploration and colonization, with Spain establishing the first colonies in the Americas following Columbus's voyages.
Step-by-step explanation:
The First Colonists in New Spain
The first colonists to New Spain came largely from different parts of Spain, which was a significant force in early transatlantic exploration and colonization. Notably, Spain and Portugal, the Iberian countries, were instrumental in establishing the first European settlements in the New World>.
While the Canary Islands and the Azores, also a part of Spain and Portugal respectively, played a role in the era of exploration, the colonists that went to New Spain were predominantly from the mainland of Spain itself.
It is important to understand that Spain was the country that established the first colonies in the Americas. This colonization followed Columbus's voyages, which began in 1492, and marked a significant period of Spanish exploration and expansion into the New World.
Spanish conquistadors like Hernán Cortés and Francisco Pizarro were key figures in the conquest of large empires such as the Aztecs and the Incas. Consequently, the patterns of colonization and control in the Americas were significantly influenced by the Spanish and Portuguese approaches.