How did the Spanish's build an empire in the Americas?

Answer 1

In the Colonial Period of European/American History, Spain built up a vast empire in both South and North America mainly through military might. Though intending to foster trade and to engage in religious conversion of native populations (which in fact did generally occur), Spain's imperial growth was primarily due to the force of its arms, which overwhelmed native groups that resisted as Spanish explorers, traders, priests, and settlers moved into the Americas.