Illustration
This map illustrates the expansion of Spanish imperial power following the completion of the Reconquista in 1492 and the voyages of Christopher Columbus (first voyage 1492). Fueled by promises of land, gold, and glory, Spain launched one of the most sweeping colonial enterprises in history, transforming itself into a global empire stretching across the Americas.
Following early conquests in the Caribbean, Spanish expeditions toppled the Aztec Empire (1519–1521) and the Inca Empire (1532–1533), securing vast new dominions. By the mid-1500s, Spain controlled much of Central and western South America, Mexico, and the southern half of what is now the United States—from Florida to the Pacific coast. While many regions remained thinly settled for centuries, Spain claimed and governed through a vast administrative and missionary network that reshaped indigenous societies and laid the foundations for the Spanish-speaking world.
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Cite This Work
APA Style
Netchev, S. (2022, August 02). Map of Spanish Conquest & Exploration in North America. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/16218/map-of-spanish-conquest--exploration-in-north-amer/
Chicago Style
Netchev, Simeon. "Map of Spanish Conquest & Exploration in North America." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified August 02, 2022. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/16218/map-of-spanish-conquest--exploration-in-north-amer/.
MLA Style
Netchev, Simeon. "Map of Spanish Conquest & Exploration in North America." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 02 Aug 2022, https://www.worldhistory.org/image/16218/map-of-spanish-conquest--exploration-in-north-amer/. Web. 29 Jul 2025.
