In the 16th century, soon after Columbus discovered the Americas, the Spaniards began to colonize the West Indies. A few years later the four larger islands were completely taken over by Spaniards who dominated the natives and reduced the remaining natives to slavery. The colonization of the mainlands happended similarly to that of the West Indies. The coasts of South and Central America were soon completely colonized. In 1519 Cortez began an expedition in which he dominated the Aztecz who populated Mexico. The Spanish population then moved south through out Central America and northward in California and New Mexico. South America was settled the same. Peru was soon conquered quickly followed by that of Mexico. Chile was overpowered in 1541 with the exception of the country of the Araucanians, the only Indian nation which has successfully survived against the European invasion.In a short period of time the whole Western section of South America from Chile to the Caribbean coast was Spanish territory.
The Portuguese began to colonize Brazil, from La Platato the Amazons. The Portuguese were more interested in the agriculteral benefits of the land, whereas the Spanish were interested in precious metals. Some colonies ended in disaster though. A French colony in Brazil was overruled by the Portuguese. Another in Florida ended in massacre. Colines in St. Lawrence in Raleigh also ended in disaster. The Dutch had the only permanent settlement near the Pomeroon river in Guiana. The Spanish and Portugeuse had colonized almost every available piece a land from the northern line of Mexico to the southern part of the continent. From the Artic Ocean to the Gulf Of Mexico, North America was still land to it's original inhabitants with the exception of St.Augustine in Florida.
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