In this deck, we'll explore the age of the conquistadors, from 1513 to around 1528. This was a period of rapid and often brutal Spanish expansion in the Americas. We will follow the key expeditions of explorers like Balboa, who claimed the Pacific Ocean for Spain, and Magellan, who led the first voyage around the world. The main focus will be on Hernán Cortés and his conquest of the mighty Aztec Empire in Mexico. You will learn about the key events, the roles of individuals like Cortés and the Aztec emperor Montezuma, and the devastating consequences for the Aztec people.

Our story begins with a conquistador named Vasco Núñez de Balboa. Operating from a Spanish base in Panama, he heard rumours from local people of a great sea on the other side of the mountains. In 1513, he led an expedition through the dense jungle of the Isthmus of Panama. After weeks of struggle, he climbed a peak and became the first European to see the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean from the Americas. He walked into the waves and claimed the entire ocean and all the lands it touched for Spain. For your exam, this is a key moment because it massively expanded Spain's imperial ambitions beyond the Caribbean.

Balboa's expedition highlighted the strategic importance of Panama. The Spanish quickly established a permanent base there, which became a vital hub. Its location connecting the Atlantic and the newly-claimed Pacific made it the perfect launchpad for further exploration and conquest. Expeditions could now be sent north towards Central America and, crucially, south along the Pacific coast towards the rumoured riches of the Inca Empire in Peru. The founding of the Panama base was a key step in Spain's control over the New World.