During the age of exploration, Spain sent numerous expeditions to the New World, which included Central and South America, as well as parts of North America. These expeditions were led by conquistadors, who were soldiers and adventurers seeking wealth and power. Many of the Spanish colonizers were ruthless in their pursuit of gold and other riches, and they treated the indigenous peoples they encountered with cruelty and disrespect.
The colonizers brought European diseases with them, which decimated the indigenous populations, and they also forced many people into slavery.
The Spanish colonizers also established missions and established a system of government that was heavily influenced by the Spanish monarchy.
The legacy of Spanish colonization can still be seen in the language, culture, and architecture of many countries in the Americas.