These individuals were Spanish and Portuguese adventurers and soldiers who expanded European colonial empires during the 15th through 17th centuries. Primarily motivated by wealth, power, and the spread of Christianity, these figures led expeditions that conquered vast territories in the Americas and other parts of the world. A well-known example is Hernn Corts, who led the expedition that resulted in the fall of the Aztec Empire.
Their actions had profound and lasting effects on global history. The influx of resources from the Americas fueled European economic growth and contributed to the rise of mercantilism. The conquests also led to the decimation of indigenous populations due to warfare, disease, and forced labor. Moreover, the introduction of new social hierarchies and the forced conversion of indigenous peoples to Christianity fundamentally altered the cultural landscape of the conquered territories. Their legacy is complex, encompassing both the creation of vast colonial empires and the exploitation and suffering of indigenous populations.
