Francisco Pizarro's first voyage to the New World was a significant moment in history, as it marked the beginning of Spanish exploration and conquest in South America. Pizarro, a Spanish conquistador and explorer, is best known for his role in the conquest of the Inca Empire in Peru.
Pizarro was born in Trujillo, Spain in the late 1470s. He was the illegitimate son of a Spanish gentleman and grew up in poverty. Despite his humble beginnings, Pizarro showed an early aptitude for exploration and adventure. In the early 1500s, he joined the Spanish conquest of the Caribbean and Central America, where he gained valuable experience in exploration and conquest.
In 1524, Pizarro set out on his first voyage to the New World with a small group of men. They landed on the coast of what is now Panama, where they encountered the indigenous people known as the Cuna. Pizarro and his men encountered some hostility from the Cuna, but they were able to establish a peaceful relationship with the native people and gained valuable information about the land and its resources.
From the Cuna, Pizarro learned about the wealthy and powerful Inca Empire, which stretched across much of present-day Peru. Pizarro became fascinated by the tales of the Inca's wealth and decided to launch an expedition to conquer the empire. In 1532, he returned to Spain to seek the support of the Spanish monarchy for his expedition.
Pizarro received the backing of the Spanish king and set out on his second voyage to the New World in 1532. This time, he was accompanied by a larger group of men, including his half-brother Hernando Pizarro and a young lieutenant named Diego de Almagro.
The expedition arrived in the Inca Empire in 1533 and was initially welcomed by the Inca ruler, Atahualpa. However, tensions soon arose between the Spanish and the Inca, and Pizarro and his men eventually captured Atahualpa and demanded a ransom for his release. The ransom was paid, but Pizarro reneged on his promise to release Atahualpa and instead executed him.
Pizarro and his men then went on to conquer the Inca Empire, establishing Spanish control over much of South America. Pizarro became the Governor and Captain-General of the conquered lands, and he went on to found the city of Lima, which became the capital of the Spanish viceroyalty of Peru.
In summary, Francisco Pizarro's first voyage to the New World was a significant moment in history, as it marked the beginning of Spanish exploration and conquest in South America. Pizarro's expedition to the Inca Empire was successful, but it also had a lasting impact on the indigenous peoples of the region and on the history of the region.
