Since Columbus' first discoveries, the Spanish empire had been confined to the island of Hispaniola. In just a few short years that would change with Puerto Rico, Jamaica and Cuba all quickly and easily coming under their control. This episode tells the story of how they did it. We have met some of its characters before - like Pinzon and de las Casas, but it also includes some new ones. ...
This episode provides a lightning fast run down of Iberian history up to the 1400s. We will also start to unpack how this history influenced the Spanish and Portuguese cultures and national characters. These influences would go on to determine how they behaved in the new world. ...
Inspired by rumours of a great empire and precious metals, in Spain's Panamanian colony three men hatch a plan to explore and colonise South America. They were Diego de Almagro, Hernando de Luque and of course Francisco Pizarro. In this introduction to the conquest, we introduce them and explain how they came to be preparing to launch a conquest which would rival that of Cortes in Mexico ...