Colonization of Latin America

Colonization of Latin America

Even before the military conquest of Latin America by the conquistadors was complete, Spanish and Portuguese settlers began pouring into the region. Many of them came in search of adventure and mineral wealth. Others established plantations to grow sugar cane, tobacco, and other crops to export to Europe. Much of Latin America was colonized by the time the first European settlers arrived on the Atlantic coast of North America in the mid-1500's. During the 1600's, the Dutch, English, and French established small colonies in Latin America, chiefly in the West Indies.

Excerpt adapted from the "Latin America" article, The World Book Encyclopedia © 1999