who were the conquistadors

The conquistadors were Spanish and Portuguese military explorers and colonizers in the 15th and 16th centuries who explored, traded with, and conquered parts of the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Oceania during the Age of Discovery. They played a key role in establishing Spanish and Portuguese colonial empires, notably conquering the Aztec and Inca empires in the Americas. The term "conquistador" means "conqueror" in Spanish and generally refers to these leaders of military expeditions who sought wealth, land, and the spread of Christianity. Notable conquistadors include Hernán Cortés, who conquered the Aztec Empire, and Francisco Pizarro, who subdued the Inca Empire. Their conquests led to a vast expansion of European influence and colonization in the New World and other parts of the world, often accompanied by significant indigenous population decline due to warfare and disease.