Which one of the following European explorer conquered Mexico?

Question

Prepp Team · Accepted Answer

Understanding the Conquest of Mexico

The question asks to identify the European explorer responsible for the conquest of Mexico. This event is a significant part of the Age of Exploration and involved the arrival of European powers in the Americas, leading to the subjugation of indigenous empires.

Identifying the Conqueror of Mexico

Let's examine the options provided to determine which explorer is associated with the conquest of Mexico:

Vasco da Gama
Bartholomew Diaz
Magellan
Hernán Cortés

We need to know the historical achievements of each of these famous European explorers.

Analysis of Options

Vasco da Gama: Vasco da Gama was a Portuguese explorer and the first European to reach India by sea, sailing around the Cape of Good Hope (Africa) in the late 15th century. His voyages were focused on establishing a sea route to Asia, not the Americas.
Bartholomew Diaz: Bartholomew Diaz (also spelled Bartolomeu Dias) was another Portuguese explorer. He was the first European navigator to round the southern tip of Africa (the Cape of Good Hope) in 1488. His explorations paved the way for Vasco da Gama's later journey to India. Like da Gama, his focus was on finding a route to Asia via Africa.
Magellan: Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese explorer who organized the Spanish expedition to the East Indies from 1519 to 1522, resulting in the first circumnavigation of the Earth. Although he sailed across the Pacific Ocean and reached the Philippines, he did not conquer Mexico.
Hernán Cortés: Hernán Cortés was a Spanish conquistador. He led an expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire and brought large parts of mainland Mexico under the rule of the King of Castile in the early 16th century. He arrived in Mexico in 1519 and through a combination of military force, strategy, and alliances with indigenous groups hostile to the Aztecs, he eventually conquered the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan.

Conclusion on the Conqueror of Mexico

Based on the historical roles of these explorers, it is clear that Hernán Cortés was the European explorer who conquered Mexico.

Revision Table: Key Explorers and Their Achievements

Explorer	Nationality	Key Achievement	Region Explored/Conquered
Vasco da Gama	Portuguese	First sea route to India	Africa (around Cape), India
Bartholomew Diaz	Portuguese	First European to round Cape of Good Hope	Southern Africa
Magellan	Portuguese (led Spanish expedition)	First circumnavigation of the Earth	Across Atlantic, Pacific, Philippines
Hernán Cortés	Spanish	Conquest of the Aztec Empire	Mexico

Additional Information on the Conquest of Mexico

The conquest of Mexico by Hernán Cortés was a complex historical event. It involved not just military conflict but also diplomacy, disease (like smallpox, which devastated indigenous populations), and the exploitation of existing rivalries between indigenous groups. Cortés formed alliances with peoples who resented Aztec rule, which significantly aided his conquest. The fall of Tenochtitlan in 1521 marked the end of the Aztec Empire and the beginning of Spanish colonial rule in Mexico.