what is a conquistador

A conquistador was a leader in the Spanish conquest of America, especially of Mexico and Peru, in the 16th century. The term "conquistador" means "conqueror," and it refers to the Spanish and Portuguese explorer-soldiers who operated as the vanguard of their empires in the 15th and 16th centuries. They were driven by a desire to explore, find gold, and expand the dominion of Spain and Portugal. The most famous conquistadors include Hernán Cortés, who conquered the Aztec Empire, and Francisco Pizarro, who began the conquest of the Inca civilization