Read about Spanish influence in the northern part of its empire in America. See what American cowboys borrowed from the vaqueros, and how Spanish architecture came to spread across the Southwest.

Offers a brief summary of the history of Ecuador starting with the Pre-Conquest, going through the Spanish Conquest,Independence and Gran Columbia and ending with modern times.

Offers a brief summary of the history of Peru starting with the Pre-Conquest, going through the Spanish Conquest and Independence and ending with modern times.

This website provides information about Spain's economic, political and military decline during the 17th century. The site discusses Philip III & IV, the plague, Count de Olivares, and the rapid losses of the military.

This site from Fordham University "provides quite a lot of information about the Incan economy--a redistributive typical of all early civilizations."

Under Moctezuma, the Aztec empire was strong and expanded its borders. However, when the Spanish arrived, their superior power and weapons enabled them to conquer the Aztecs. Read about Moctezuma's life, his interactions with the Spanish...

Paintings that celebrated St. Joseph as a youthful, caring father skyrocketed to popularity during the 16th and 17th centuries, both in Spain and throughout the Spanish Empire. This particular painting of the lively, vigorous St. Joseph...

This resource provides the chronology of the rise and fall of the Spanish Empire.

Fascinating and comprehensive look at the indigenous culture of Otavalo, Ecuador. Excellent photographs accompany this cultural treatise that examines the history, industry, and tourism of Otavalo. Additional links access more specific...

This article from McGraw-Hill Higher Education discusses European exploration in the late 1400s and 1500s and its impact on English colonization hundreds of years later.

Although France and England were fighting in Europe, wars spilled over into North America too before the French and Indian Wars.

This resource provides a chronology of the Reconquista (or Reconquest) the transition of the rule of Spain from Muslim to Catholic leaders.