How Did Spain Conquer The Indigenous Americans

World Domination has been a common trait for Europeans in the 1500’s. Each countries’ ruler had a goal of ruling more land than their competition. This led to bloody wars and tense times between two neighboring countries. The Spanish rulers noticing that winning the land on their continent would be difficult decided to send explorer, Francisco Pizarro and crew across the Atlantic Ocean to the New World. When the Spanish reached, they had won the land by having better transportation, mechanical advances, and having the motivation and drive to rule and conquer in their blood. Transportation has always played a key role in World History. Before tanks, helicopters, or planes were used, the main method of transportation was horses in Europe.

One major device that helped the Spanish in conquering the indigenous Americans was the handgun. In 1378, the European people started to use handguns called ‘hand cannons.’ Over the years of advancements added to the gun, the Spanish had brought over the weapon to the New World 154 years later. One major benefit of the gun was that it could fire bullets from a distance and it was more deadly. Since the indigenous Americans weapons were stone, bronze, or wooden clubs, maces, hand axes, and slingshots3, it was less likely the Spanish soldier would get hurt quickly or brutally. In addition to the mechanical advances, the Spanish also had better armor. Steel armor4 was more effective at deflecting arrows, axes, and stones from injuring a soldier. The indigenous Americans had quilted armor to deflect the bullets shot by the Spanish. As a result, nothing could stop the bullets from going into the indigenous soldiers’ body. Furthermore, all the materials brought to the New World came on a ship. Ships allowed people to cross small and large bodies of water very quickly. Inside the ships, artillery, people, food, animals, etc. were added. In addition, with navigational tools, it became easier to cross the Atlantic Ocean. Since the indigenous Americans had not yet created ships, it would be very difficult to bring people, food, and the necessary resources to other lands by crossing water. All