Context and motives of the Spanish conquest
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Question
Who conquered the Aztec Empire, and by when?
Answer
Hernán Cortés, who overthrew the Aztecs of Mexico by 1521 after first reaching Tenochtitlán in 1519.
Question
Who conquered the Inca Empire, and by when?
Answer
Francisco Pizarro, who captured the Inca ruler Atahualpa in 1532 and overthrew the empire by 1533.
Question
What were the three main motives of the Spanish conquest?
Answer
Gold (wealth), God (spreading Christianity) and glory (fame and status).
Question
Define conquistador.
Answer
A Spanish soldier-adventurer who conquered new lands in the Americas, usually funding his own expedition.
Question
What was the encomienda system?
Answer
A grant giving a Spaniard the labour and tribute of local people in return for 'protecting' them.
Question
How did the Reconquista shape Spanish attitudes to conquest?
Answer
It ended in 1492 and left Spain warlike and Christian, viewing the fight against non-Christians as a holy duty.
Question
Name three parts of the context that helped so few Spaniards win.
Answer
Superior weapons (steel, guns, horses), local allies such as the Tlaxcalans, and deadly diseases like smallpox.
Question
Why was the Inca Empire vulnerable in 1532?
Answer
It was recovering from a civil war between the rival brothers Atahualpa and Huáscar, leaving it divided.
Question
How did smallpox affect the conquest of Mexico?
Answer
It swept through in 1520, killing huge numbers of Aztecs, including the ruler Cuitláhuac, and weakening resistance.
Question
What is the difference between a motive and context in this conquest?
Answer
Motive explains why the Spanish invaded (gold, God, glory); context explains why so few men won (allies, weapons, disease).
Question
What does the command term 'evaluate' require?
Answer
A judgement: weigh the factors and reach a supported conclusion, not just a list.
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Topic 2.2 hub
Conquest of Mexico and Peru (1519–1551)
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