6.5.1 A new empire After defeating the Aztec Empire, Hernán Cortés founded the colony of New Spain, with Mexico City (formerly Tenochtitlan) as its capital. Over time, this colony grew to include what today makes up parts of: • the United States • Mexico • the Caribbean islands • the Philippines. Spanish control of these areas lasted more than 400 years. The lands taken after the conquest were very rich and complex, giving Spain a chance to become a world power.
SOURCE2 A map showing the growth of New Spain in the Americas
Key
New Spain
San Jose
City
0
500
1000 1500
kilometres
San Francisco
San Jose
Santa Fe
AT L ANT I C
San Diego
San Antonio
O C E AN
Mexico City
Santo Domingo
CARIBBEAN SEA
PAC I F I C
OCEAN
San Fernando
Source: Map drawn by Spatial Vision.
SkillBuilder discussion Communicating 1. Study SOURCE2. What regions are included in the area marked as New Spain? 2. Calculate the approximate size of New Spain as illustrated in this map (i.e. excluding the Philippines). Use the scale to help. 3. How many cities are labelled on the map, and what are their names?
TOPIC6 The Spanish and the Americas 137
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