Spanish conquest of Yucatán facts for kids
The Spanish Conquest of Yucatán was a long fight between the Spanish conquistadors and the Maya people. This part of the Spanish takeover of the Americas started in the early 16th century. It took much longer than the Spanish fights against the Aztec and Inca Empires.
The last Maya stronghold, the city of Tayasal on Lake Petén Itzá, finally fell in 1697. This was about 170 years after the conquest began! However, the Spanish had control over most of Yucatán by 1546. Only the Petén region and the Guatemalan highlands remained free for longer.
Unlike the Aztecs and Incas, the Maya did not have one big capital city. Instead, they lived in many separate city-states. This meant the Spanish had to fight each city one by one. This made the conquest much harder and longer.
At first, the Spanish conquistadors were mostly looking for gold and silver. The Maya lands did not have much of these precious metals. So, the Spanish were not very interested in Yucatán at first. But by the 1520s, they realized they needed land and workers for their new colonies. That's when they turned their attention to the Maya region.
Contents
Why the Spanish Came to Yucatán
The Spanish explorers first arrived in the Yucatán area in the early 1500s. They were looking for new lands and riches.
Early Explorations
One of the first Europeans to meet the Maya was Bartholomew Columbus. He was the brother of Christopher Columbus. In 1502, he saw a large Maya canoe in the Gulf of Honduras. This showed the Spanish that there were advanced civilizations in the area.
Later, in 1517, Francisco Hernández de Córdoba led an expedition. He explored the coast of Yucatán. His group had some fights with the Maya. They also saw large Maya cities, which made the Spanish curious about the land.
Searching for Gold and Land
The Spanish governor of Cuba, Diego Velázquez de Cuellar, heard about these new lands. He believed there were wealthy cities and gold in Yucatán. He sent more expeditions to explore and claim the land for Spain.
Hernán Cortés also sailed along the Yucatán coast in 1519. He was on his way to conquer the Aztecs. His journey helped the Spanish learn more about the coastline.
The Long Fight for Control
The Spanish faced strong resistance from the Maya people. The Maya fought bravely to protect their homes and way of life.
The Montejo Family's Role
The main effort to conquer Yucatán was led by the Montejo family. Francisco de Montejo the Elder started the conquest in 1527. He faced many challenges, including fierce Maya warriors and the difficult jungle environment.
His son, Francisco de Montejo the Younger, continued the fight. They slowly gained control over parts of the peninsula. A monument in Mérida honors their efforts.
Building New Towns
As the Spanish took control, they built new towns and cities. These new settlements often used stones from old Maya temples. For example, a mission church was built in Dzibilchaltún around 1590-1600. It used stones from nearby Maya buildings.
The Spanish also set up new routes to travel through the land. These routes helped them connect their new towns and control the region.
The Final Stand
Even after many years, some Maya groups remained independent. The Itza Maya, living around Lake Petén Itzá, were especially strong. Their capital, Tayasal, was a major center of resistance.
It took until 1697 for the Spanish to finally conquer Tayasal. This marked the end of the main Spanish conquest of the Maya lands.
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Images for kids
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Bartholomew Columbus came across a Yucatec Maya canoe in the Gulf of Honduras
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Francisco Hernández de Córdoba
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Early 16th century European caravel
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Governor Diego Velázquez de Cuellar claimed the discovery of wealthy cities and gold in Yucatán
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Hernán Cortés followed the Yucatán coast on his way to conquer the Aztecs.
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Monument in Mérida to Montejo the Elder and his son, Montejo the Younger
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Ruins of a mission church built by the Spanish in Dzibilchaltún ca. 1590–1600 from the stone taken from the nearby Maya temples
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17th century entry routes to Petén
See also
In Spanish: Conquista de Yucatán para niños
