How were the Mayans colonised?
The Mayan civilisation lasted for a very long time and resisted the Spanish conquests and attempts at colonisation, but fell when the Spanish established a capital at Merida. The colonisation of the Americas started out in the 16th century. It was over 170 years after the first Spanish conquest before the last Mayan city fell. Unlike other attempts at colonisation by the Spanish against the Aztecs and Incas, the Mayan had no capital city whose overthrow would make the capture of the rest easier and quicker. Rather, the Maya had a number of independent states which the Spanish had to capture one by one.
The conquest of the Maya was led by Pedro de Alvarado, one of Hernan Cortes, top lieutenants and a veteran of the conquest of Mexico. Alvarado led less than 500 Spanish and a number of Mexican native allies into the region. He made an ally of the Kaqchiquel and went to war upon the K’iche, who he had defeated in 1524. His abuses of the Kaqchiquel caused them to turn on him, and he spent until 1527 warring out various rebellions. With the two strongest kingdoms defeated, the smaller kingdoms were isolated and destroyed as well. By the time the spanish arrived, The Maya had degenerated into a number of small fortified kingdoms, the strongest of which were the K'iche and Kaqchiquel in central Guatemala.
The Spanish went to colonize the rest Americas, and gathered the most amount of gold possible. If they saw any resistance from any of the villagers, the conquistadores killed them on the spot. Many of the local noblemen were often killed for not telling the Spanish were there 'treasures' were immediately.
The conquest of the Maya was led by Pedro de Alvarado, one of Hernan Cortes, top lieutenants and a veteran of the conquest of Mexico. Alvarado led less than 500 Spanish and a number of Mexican native allies into the region. He made an ally of the Kaqchiquel and went to war upon the K’iche, who he had defeated in 1524. His abuses of the Kaqchiquel caused them to turn on him, and he spent until 1527 warring out various rebellions. With the two strongest kingdoms defeated, the smaller kingdoms were isolated and destroyed as well. By the time the spanish arrived, The Maya had degenerated into a number of small fortified kingdoms, the strongest of which were the K'iche and Kaqchiquel in central Guatemala.
The Spanish went to colonize the rest Americas, and gathered the most amount of gold possible. If they saw any resistance from any of the villagers, the conquistadores killed them on the spot. Many of the local noblemen were often killed for not telling the Spanish were there 'treasures' were immediately.