Name: Cristian DeWeese

Topic: The Spanish Conquistadors of America and its Effects

Research Questions 

• How did the Spanish conquistadors utilize military strategies and alliances with indigenous groups to achieve their conquest of the Americas?

• How did the Spanish conquistadors overcome the military challenges posed by the advanced indigenous civilizations, such as the Aztecs and Incas?

• How did the Spanish conquistadors justify their conquest of the Americas in terms of religion and ideology?

Thesis Statement: 

The consequences of the Spanish conquest of America helped in shaping the social, political, and economic structures of the newly established colonies and had enduring effects on the indigenous populations by overcoming military challenges and resistances. It transformed the indigenous societies and left lasting legacies of cultural assimilation, economic exploitation, and demographic devastation for American history.

Sources: 

• "The Spanish Conquest" from courses. lumenlearning.com: Lumen Learning. (n.d.). The Spanish conquest. Retrieved from [Primary Source]

This article highlights the effects and impacts of Spanish conquest of the Americas. It covers the military strategies employed by the Spanish conquistadors, such as the utilization of advanced weaponry and alliances with indigenous groups. The author discusses the significant impact of the conquest on the indigenous civilizations, including the imposition of Spanish culture, language, and religion, as well as the exploitation of natural resources. It also provides the insight about the devastating consequences of diseases brought by the Spanish, resulting in a significant demographic decline among native populations. A strength of the article is its informative and well-structured content, providing a detailed overview of the conquest. However, a weakness is that it may lack some in-depth analysis of the cultural and social ramifications of the Spanish conquest on indigenous societies.

• Spanish Conquest of the Americas. don Quijote. (n.d.). [Secondary Source]

This article mostly provides the military strategies and alliances employed by the Spanish conquistadors in their quest to conquer America. It provides insights into the tactics they utilized to achieve their goals. The article highlights how the conquistadors effectively employed superior military technology, such as firearms and armored cavalry, which gave them a significant advantage over the indigenous populations. Additionally, they formed alliances with indigenous groups who were opposed to the ruling powers, leveraging internal conflicts to weaken the native civilizations they encountered. This military strategy, combined with alliances, played a pivotal role in the Spanish conquest. A strength of the article is its detailed exploration of the military tactics and alliances employed by the conquistadors. However, a weakness is that it may lack extensive analysis of the long-term consequences and impacts of the conquest on the indigenous societies and cultures.

3. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (n.d.). Ideology Behind the Spanish Conquest. Encyclopædia Britannica. [Secondary Source]

This article provides a comprehensive overview of the Spanish conquest of America, with a particular emphasis on the religious and ideological justifications behind it. it explores how the Spanish conquistadors justified their conquest in terms of religion and ideology, specifically their mission to spread Christianity and save the souls of the indigenous populations. It discusses the role of Catholicism as a driving force behind the conquest, as well as the establishment of missions and the conversion efforts undertaken by the Spanish. One strength of the article is its in-depth analysis of the religious and ideological motivations of the conquistadors. However, a weakness is that it may not provide as much detail on other factors that contributed to the conquest, such as economic and political interests.