How Did Spain Become The Most Powerful Country In The New World

During the sixteenth century, Spain had become the most powerful country in both Europe and the Americas through its successes in the New World. The Spanish throne funded Columbus’ exploration that eventually led to the discovery of what will be known as the Americas. The Spanish Empire created the model for the colonization of the Americas through their conquest of the two most powerful empires in the Americas--the Aztec and the Incan. These conquests also provided the Spanish with tons of riches, thus pushing them towards the seat of power. Spain’s journey to greatness began with Christopher Columbus. Columbus had believed that the world was a sphere; therefore, one could reach the East Indies by sailing westward instead of the traditional

With this knowledge, most European countries turned their attentions from the East Indies to the New World. The Columbian Exchange that was created when Columbus first arrived in the Caribbean provided a steady connection between Europe and the Americas. Spaniards brought Christianity, iron technology, sailing ships, firearms, wheeled vehicles, and horses to the New World. Europeans also unintentionally brought diseases such as smallpox and measles that killed off many indigenous people, who Columbus inaccurately labelled as “Indians.” The Native Americans introduced the Europeans to miracle crops like corn, potatoes, and tobacco. The Natives spread syphilis to the Europeans who brought it back to Europe. Although the Spanish gained quite a lot of goods and ideas from the Columbian Exchange, they didn’t find the riches they had hoped for. What really provided Spain with the riches they desired and pushed it into the seat of power as the most powerful country in both Europe and the Americas was its conquest of the Aztec Empire and the Incan

Nineteen year old Hernan Cortes first arrived in the New World in 1504. A few years later, he fought in the conquest of Cuba. In 1519, Hernan Cortes requested and received permission from the governor of Cuba to conduct his exploration of the “interior of the mainland” to “investigate rumors of the fabulously wealthy kingdom” (The American Promise 36). When Cortes landed on the Yucatan Peninsula with his exploration crew of 600 men, he luckily met a generous local chief who gifted him a young girl named Malinali. The Spaniards referred to Malinali as Marina. According to The American Promise, page 36, Marina served as a translator for the Spanish since she “ spoke several native languages, including Nahuatl, the language of the Mexica.” Montezuma, the emperor of the Mexican people, sent people bearing gifts such as food and gold to the men. This gift of gold and riches from the emperor confirmed the Spaniard’s belief that the Aztec Empire was indeed the empire from the rumors. Cortes marched towards Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Mexican Empire. Once they arrived in Tenochtitlan, Montezuma was very welcoming and provided them with more luxurious gifts. Cortes proceeded to take Montezuma hostage with the intention to use him as a puppet “through whom the Spaniards could rule the Mexican empire” (The American Promise 36). There was a calm before the storm in the form of an