Spanish colonization of the Americas Facts for Kids

This flag, with the crown of Castile, was used by Spanish explorers like Hernán Cortés and Francisco Pizarro.

The Spanish colonization of the Americas was when Spain started to explore, conquer, and settle lands in the Americas. This big historical event began when Christopher Columbus (Cristóbal Colón) arrived in the Americas in 1492. It was the first part of a larger movement where many European countries colonized the Americas.

Over about 400 years, Spain greatly expanded its control across the Americas. Their territories eventually included Central America, most of South America, Mexico, and large parts of what is now the United States. They even reached areas like British Columbia in Canada and Alaska. However, in the early 1800s, many Spanish colonies in the Americas began to fight for their freedom. By the mid-1820s, countries like Mexico and most of Central and South America had become independent from Spain. The last Spanish colonies, Cuba and Puerto Rico, gained their independence in 1898 after the Spanish–American War.

Images for kids

The Discovery Of America by Johann Moritz Rugendas.
The cover of A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies (1552) by Bartolomé de las Casas.
A drawing showing the harsh treatment of Indigenous people by the Spanish.
A 17th-century painting showing the meeting of Hernán Cortés and the Aztec emperor Moctezuma.
A painting by John Everett Millais (1845) showing Francisco Pizarro capturing the Inca emperor Atahualpa.
A portrait of Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada, a Spanish explorer.
A monument to Pedro de Mendoza in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
A bust of Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, who wrote about his long journey through North America.
The first image of the silver mountain, Cerro Rico del Potosi, published in Europe by Pedro Cieza de León in 1553.
The National Palace in Mexico City, built by Hernán Cortés.
A Mapuche person on horseback carrying off a Spanish woman, by Johann Moritz Rugendas.
A 17th-century Dutch map of the Americas.
Nicolás de Ovando, a Spanish governor sent to the Americas.
Fray Bartolomé de las Casas, known as the Protector of the Indians.
Blasco Núñez Vela, the first viceroy of Peru, who was overthrown.
A detail from a gallery of portraits in Peru, showing both Inca emperors and Spanish monarchs.
The Cabildo building in Tlaxcala, Mexico.
A view of the Plaza Mayor of Mexico City and the viceroy's palace, painted by Cristóbal de Villalpando in 1695.
A view of the Plaza Mayor in Lima, Peru, around 1680.
Members of the Real Audiencia (Royal Court) of Lima, from the book Nueva Crónica y Buen Gobierno.
A map of Spanish America around 1800, showing the four main areas: New Spain (pink), New Granada (green), Peru (orange), and Río de la Plata (blue).
The Cabildo (town hall) in the city of Salta, Argentina.
A map of the San Diego presidio (fort) in California in 1820.
A modern carving of the Franciscan friar Motolinia.
Lima Cathedral, which began construction in 1535.
The Church of la Compañía (Society of Jesus) in Cuzco, Peru.
A graph showing the decline in population in Mexico.
A painting by Luis de Mena from 1750, showing the Virgin of Guadalupe and the social classes of the time.
A page from the Codex Mendoza showing tribute paid by a region of the Aztec Empire.
A painting by Pietro Gualdi from 1846, showing the silver mining process at the Hacienda Nueva de Fresnillo.
This map shows how Spanish American independence developed over time.
This map shows where Spain had a historical presence, claimed land, and explored in North America.

Spanish colonization of the Americas facts for kids

Images for kids

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