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Jul 4, 2024 · See how civilizations rose and fell in North America along with the colonization of the continent by Europe which would lead to the rise of the United States.
- The Thirst For Gold
- Aztec Gold
- Inca Gold
- The Gold of El Dorado
- Lost Treasures
When Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) arrived in the Americas in 1492, the one commodity that all European monarchs craved was gold. With this precious yellow metal, armies, mercenaries, and gunpowder weapons could be paid for, and their kingdoms could be defended and expanded. Gold has always been rare, but at the end of the 15th century, it was e...
When Cortés began the conquest of Mexico in 1519, the search for gold was foremost in his mind and the primary motivation of his fellow conquistadors. The superior weapons of the conquistadors, their aggressive and total wartactics, and the brilliant use of local allies all conspired to bring the Spanish victory after victory and ultimate control o...
In Peru, the conquistador Francisco Pizarro attacked the Inca Empire in 1532 and captured its ruler, Atahualpa. The Inca civilization considered gold the sweat of their sun god Inti, and so it was used to manufacture all manner of objects of religious significance, especially masks and sun disks. The Coricancha Temple of the Sun in Cuscowas covered...
In ancient Colombia, gold was also revered for its lustre and association with the sun. In powdered form, gold was used to cover the body of the future Muisca (Chibcha) king in a lavish coronation ceremony, which gave rise to the legend of El Dorado ('Gilded Man'). The newly dusted monarch then leapt into Lake Guatavita in a ritual act of cleansing...
As the conquistadors were only interested in gold and not what shape it came in, they relentlessly melted artefacts down to make coins and ingots, which were easier to transport back to Europe and easier to share out amongst themselves. Sacred statues, despite the best efforts of the locals to hide them away, were found and melted down. Gold items ...
- Mark Cartwright
But the richest among them might own a beautiful silver pot created by Paul Revere or a stunning painting by John Singleton Copley. To be sure, the wealthiest people in Britain lived more extravagantly. There was no American equivalent of Blenheim Palace, for example.
Jun 25, 2020 · Explore the rich history of New Spain, a crucial era marked by dramatic exploration, cultural fusion, and the birth of empires. Discover how this period shaped the Americas and left a lasting legacy in our world today.
Feb 7, 2024 · In this gallery of seven maps, we examine the vast overseas territories of the Spanish Empire from the late 15th century to the 19th century. The empire reached its height during the Age of Exploration and included regions in the Americas, Asia, Africa, and the Pacific.
These new Spanish territories officially became known as viceroyalties, or lands ruled by viceroys who were second to—and a stand-in for—the Spanish king. Girolamo Ruscelli, “Nveva Hispania tabvla nova,” engraved map of New Spain, 1599, 19 x 25 cm (David Rumsey Historical Map Collection).
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May 14, 2022 · American treasure and the decline of Spain. Spain was one of the world’s richest countries around 1500. Two centuries later, it was a backwater. This column discusses the long-run impact of the influx of precious metals from the New World on the economic development of Spain.
