Spanish explorers and conquerors who led military expeditions in the Americas during the 16th century, seeking gold, glory, and territorial expansion. These men destroyed indigenous empires and established Spanish colonial rule across vast territories.
From Spanish 'conquistador,' meaning 'conqueror,' derived from Latin 'conquistus,' past participle of 'conquirere' (to search for, procure by effort). The term became specifically associated with the Spanish conquest of the Americas, representing both individual ambition and imperial expansion.
Try Another Word