What efforts of the Spanish to explore and colonize the Americas went largely unchallenged until the English turned their attention towards the New World in the late?

Answer 1

The Spanish efforts to explore and colonize the Americas, particularly in the Caribbean and parts of Central and South America, faced little resistance initially due to their military superiority and the divisions among Indigenous populations. Their conquests, exemplified by figures like Hernán Cortés and Francisco Pizarro, led to the rapid establishment of Spanish colonies and the exploitation of resources. It wasn't until the late 16th and early 17th centuries, when the English began to focus on colonization, that Spanish dominance faced significant challenges, leading to competition for territory and resources in North America. This shift marked the beginning of a more contested colonial landscape as European powers vied for influence in the New World.