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The pope finally resolved this rivalry between Spain and Portugal in the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494, which established an 1100-mile long “Line of Demarcation,” which was 50 degrees longitude (north-to-south) in the Western Hemisphere.  This division of world territories gave Portugal trading rights in India, China, the East Indies, East Brazil and the Spanish Americas.  Spain was given control of the remaining, vast majority of the Americas.  Ferdinand Magellan then led the first successful voyage to circumnavigate the globe in 1519.  Although Magellan was killed by Philippine natives before completing the last leg of the journey, he was the first to sail around the tip of South America to enter the Pacific Ocean.  Only 18 of Magellan’s approximately 250 sailors made it back to Spain three years later, in 1522.   

The pope finally resolved this rivalry between Spain and Portugal in the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494, which established an 1100-mile long “Line of Demarcation,” which was 50 degrees longitude (north-to-south) in the Western Hemisphere.  This division of world territories gave Portugal trading rights in India, China, the East Indies, East Brazil and the Spanish Americas.  Spain was given control of the remaining, vast majority of the Americas.  Ferdinand Magellan then led the first successful voyage to circumnavigate the globe in 1519.  Although Magellan was killed by Philippine natives before completing the last leg of the journey, he was the first to sail around the tip of South America to enter the Pacific Ocean.  Only 18 of Magellan’s approximately 250 sailors made it back to Spain three years later, in 1522.   

As a result of Magellan’s journey, Spain gained control of many South American territories, including Peru.  Spain also obtained control over the Philippines in the Far East.  Spanish warrior Hernando Cortes led the conquest of Mexico, with the initial help of the Aztecs, many of whom believed Cortes was their god Quetzalcoatl (who, conveniently for the Spanish, was expected to appear that very year).  Cortes captured the Aztec ruler Moctezuma (popularly known as “Montezuma”) and conquered their empire.  Cortes was also aided by an Aztec woman named Malinche, who served as a guide and translator.  Cortes burned the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan and built Mexico City in its place.   

As a result of Magellan’s journey, Spain gained control of many South American territories, including Peru.  Spain also obtained control over the Philippines in the Far East.  Spanish warrior Hernando Cortes led the conquest of Mexico in 1519, with the initial help of the Aztecs, many of whom believed Cortes was their god Quetzalcoatl (who, conveniently for the Spanish, was expected to appear that very year).  Cortes captured the Aztec ruler Moctezuma (popularly known as “Montezuma”) and conquered their empire.  Cortes was also aided by an Aztec woman named Malinche, who served as a guide and translator.  Cortes burned the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan and built Mexico City in its place.   

Francisco Pizzaro led the conquest of Peru, eventually killing their emperor, Atahualpa.  The ancient Peruvian city of Cuzco was completely destroyed and replaced with the city of Lima.  While in Peru, Pizzaro also discovered the greatest silver mine in the Americas. The vast majority of silver obtained was traded with China, whose economy was based on silver.  Both Cortes’ and Pizzaro’s conquests were facilitated by the use of horses and superior weapons, and the South Americans were also devastated by European diseases like smallpox.  The native population had no immunity to such disease, and some historians claim that the Spanish intentionally spread the deadly disease by giving the natives blankets that carried the germ.  There is one defect to that anti-Christian theory: the germ theory was not discovered until the 19th century!  No one knew that diseases were spread by germs in the 1500s, so the story is pure fiction.

Francisco Pizzaro led the conquest of Peru, eventually killing their emperor, Atahualpa.  The ancient Peruvian city of Cuzco was completely destroyed and replaced with the city of Lima.  While in Peru, Pizzaro also discovered the greatest silver mine in the Americas. The vast majority of silver obtained was traded with China, whose economy was based on silver.  Both Cortes’ and Pizzaro’s conquests were facilitated by the use of horses and superior weapons, and the South Americans were also devastated by European diseases like smallpox.  The native population had no immunity to such disease, and some historians claim that the Spanish intentionally spread the deadly disease by giving the natives blankets that carried the germ.  There is one defect to that anti-Christian theory: the germ theory was not discovered until the 19th century!  No one knew that diseases were spread by germs in the 1500s, so the story is pure fiction.