Conquistadors

/ˌkɑːŋkɪˈstɑːdɔrz/ noun

Definition

Spanish military conquerors from the 1500s who invaded and conquered the Americas, particularly the Aztec and Inca empires.

Etymology

From Spanish 'conquistador,' meaning 'conqueror,' derived from Latin 'conquirere' (to conquer). The term specifically refers to the Spanish conquistadors of the 16th century.

Kelly Says

Conquistadors like Cortés conquered the Aztec Empire with just a few hundred soldiers against millions, largely because of disease and exploiting existing political divisions—a tragic reminder of how luck and germs, not military skill alone, determined history!

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