Conquistadores

Definition

Conquistadores were Spanish explorers and conquerors who played a significant role in the colonization of the Americas during the 15th and 16th centuries. They sought wealth, power, and land for Spain.

Analogy

Imagine conquistadores as ambitious treasure hunters who set sail on epic quests to find gold and claim new territories, much like modern-day adventurers searching for hidden treasures in video games.

Related terms

Colonization: The process by which a country establishes control over another region or territory, often involving settlement and exploitation of resources.

Indigenous Peoples: Refers to the original inhabitants of a particular region or territory before it was colonized or settled by outsiders.

Encomienda System: A labor system implemented by the Spanish colonizers that granted them control over indigenous peoples' lands and forced their labor in exchange for protection.