Which of the following are true of the conquests of Pizarro and Cortes?

Spain was enriched by the conquests.
The people were forced to work as slaves.
They used extensive negotiations to gain trading concessions.
The rulers of the Indigenous Peoples nations met them freely.
The rulers of the Indigenous Peoples nations were captured by treachery.
The conquests were incomplete.

1 answer

Let's evaluate each statement regarding the conquests of Pizarro and Cortés:

  1. Spain was enriched by the conquests.

    • True. The conquests of the Aztec Empire by Cortés and the Inca Empire by Pizarro brought vast wealth to Spain, primarily through the acquisition of gold, silver, and other resources.
  2. The people were forced to work as slaves.

    • True. Many Indigenous people were subjected to forced labor under systems such as the encomienda and later the repartimiento, effectively enslaving them.
  3. They used extensive negotiations to gain trading concessions.

    • False. While some initial encounters involved negotiations or diplomacy, the conquests were largely characterized by military force and coercion rather than diplomatic negotiations for trading concessions.
  4. The rulers of the Indigenous Peoples nations met them freely.

    • False. Although some interactions were more diplomatic, many meetings resulted in confrontations or were based on betrayal. For example, Cortés had initial meetings with Montezuma, but this was under coercive circumstances.
  5. The rulers of the Indigenous Peoples nations were captured by treachery.

    • True. Both Cortés and Pizarro employed strategies that involved deception to capture key leaders. For instance, Pizarro captured Atahualpa after tricking him into an ambush.
  6. The conquests were incomplete.

    • False. The conquests of the Aztec and Inca Empires were largely complete in the sense that both empires were effectively brought under Spanish control, although resistance continued for years in various forms.

In summary, the true statements are:

  • Spain was enriched by the conquests.
  • The people were forced to work as slaves.
  • The rulers of the Indigenous Peoples nations were captured by treachery.