Question

while seeking gold, francisco pizarro led his troops to capture the great inca capital at cuzco. within a few years, pizarro had conquered the entire inca empire. the spanish then began to create a vast empire. they called it new spain. they established settlements to serve as trading posts, missions to convert local native americans to catholicism, and military bases. exploring the borderlands of new spain spains empire in america extended well beyond the lands taken from the aztec and inca. regions claimed by the spanish explorers included the island of puerto rico, the coast of present - day florida, and the coastal regions of the gulf of mexico. the spanish also explored what is now the southwestern united states. they were looking for cities of gold that were rumored to exist there. they traveled through unclaimed areas of texas, oklahoma, and as far north as kansas. spanish treatment of native americans california was among the last borderlands settled by the spanish. to pay back settlers for their work, spain established the encomienda system. it gave settlers the right to tax native americans and make them work. most of the workers were treated as slaves. they were forced to work on plantations in new spain. many native americans died of disease and exhaustion. the priest bartolomé de las casas spoke out against the encomienda system. challenge activity critical thinking: identify cause and effect make a chart showing the causes and effects of spains conquests in the americas. why did pizarro first enter the inca empire? why might de las casas have spoken out against the encomienda system?

Explanation:

1. Why did Pizarro first enter the Inca empire?: Pizarro was seeking gold. The text mentions that while seeking gold, Francisco Pizarro led his troops to capture the Inca capital at Cusco.
2. Why might de Las Casas have spoken out against the encomienda system?: The encomienda system treated Native Americans harshly, essentially as slaves. They were forced to work and many died of disease and exhaustion. De Las Casas, as a priest, likely had moral objections to this mistreatment.

Answer:

1. He was seeking gold.
2. He objected to the harsh treatment of Native Americans, who were treated as slaves, forced to work, and suffered high - mortality due to disease and exhaustion.