Mexico and Central America 1648 CE

What is happening in Mexico and Central America in 1648CE

The Aztec conquered a large empire covering much of Mexico and Central America, before they themselves were suddenly conquered by a small band of Spanish soldiers, under the command of the conquistadore, Hérnán Cortes. Arriving in Mexico in 1519 with 200 men, Cortés had completed the conquest of the country by 1522 -an achievment only made possible with the aid of the Aztec’s many native enemies.

With Mexico and the other countries of Central America under their control, the Spanish seized the land and distributed it amongst themselves. As for the native population, millions died from the diseases that the Europeans brought with them, to which they had no immunity. Most of the rest find themselves reduced to serfdom on huge estates owned by the conquistadores, called encomiendas, The great cities of the past are deserted and left to crumble away, to be rediscovered centuries later.

The Catholic church has taken control of the spiritual life of the inhabitants, and the old religions remain only as part of the strong folk tradition of the native Americans.

Next map, Mexico and Central America in 1789