Pre-Conquest
Prior to the arrival of the Spanish and Portugal, Latin America was populated with a variety of natives whose development ranged from highly advanced to primitive.

Spanish Conquest
Spain conquered a region that stretched from western North America to the southern tip of South America. The needs and wishes of the native populations was rarely taken into account in her drive to control this vast region.

Mexico

THE CONQUEST OF THE AZTEC EMPIRE
Information on the conquest

The Andes

Colonization
Once the Spanish gained control of the Latin America they subdued the natives and made them either slaves of virtual peasants. Spanish language, culture and religion was imposed and her natural resources were exploited. Any resistance was brutally subdued.

Independence
After centuries of Spanish control the colonialist began to agitate for independence. Inspired by the American Revolution men like Simon Bolivar and San Martin organized armies and eventually overthrew the Spanish government and established independent nations during the 19th century.