The Spanish conquest of the Americas is a pivotal part of the history of colonization.

Christopher Columbus's discovery, albeit accidental, of a new landmass turned the world upside-down. Beginning in the late 15th century, the kingdom of Spain spearheaded the effort of colonization, sending expedition after expedition to the Caribbean islands and then to mainland North and South America. Through violence, bloodshed, and conquest, the Spanish conquistadors were able to gain control of the rich and prosperous lands of indigenous American civilizations, laying waste to magnificent political and social entities like the Aztec and Inca Empires.

This book tells the story of how Spain managed to conquer the Americas in the span of half a century, from the late 1400s to the mid-1500s. Although exploitation and warfare continued between the colonizers and the colonized after this period, the largest campaigns against the indigenous peoples were undertaken in this short time span, which is the focus of this book.

This comprehensive guide will cover the following:

• Columbus and his expeditions, which encouraged other Europeans to start colonization
• The makeup of indigenous American societies, from their social hierarchies and complex cultures to diverse political structures
• Colonization of the Caribbean islands and the establishment of the Spanish West Indies
• The arrival of Hernán Cortés and his groundbreaking expedition into the Aztec Empire in modern-day Mexico
• The conquest of the Maya civilization in the Yucatán Peninsula and the power dynamics between different power-hungry conquistador groups there
• The magnificent Inca Empire in the South American Andes and its conquest by Francisco Pizarro
• Stories of infamous expeditions and the problems the conquistadors encountered
• And much, much more!