In complete sentences, describe how spain established territorial claims in the caribbean and south america. include these terms in your answer: christopher columbus, conquistadors, hernán cortés, francisco pizarro.

Christopher Columbus discovered the Americas for the Europeans (he is believed to be Italian) and then through conquest with arms and also with the spread of smallpox, Hernan Cortez and Francisco Pizarro beat first the Aztecs and then the Incas in ruthless warfare with the advantage of being on horseback and having steel weapons.