USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Spanish explorers with hopes of conquest in the New World were known as conquistadores. Hernán Cortés arrived on Hispaniola in 1504 and participated in the conquest of the Island. Cortés then led the exploration of the Yucatán Peninsula in hopes of attaining glory.

Detailed explanation-2: -conquistador, (Spanish: “conqueror”) plural conquistadores or conquistadors, any of the leaders in the Spanish conquest of America, especially of Mexico and Peru, in the 16th century.

Detailed explanation-3: -In Spanish, the word “conquistador” translates to “conqueror”, a fitting title for the Spanish (and also Portuguese) explorers who attempted to explore and conquer much of the Caribbean, Central, and South America. The conquistadors’ mission was to conquer these lands in the name of their home countries.

Detailed explanation-4: -The two most famous conquistadors were Hernán Cortés who conquered the Aztec Empire and Francisco Pizarro who led the conquest of the Inca Empire. They were second cousins born in Extremadura, where many of the Spanish conquerors were born.