After Amerigo Vespucci realized that Columbus had found a new continent, explorers from all over Europe rushed to claim land and power in “The New World.” Among the eager explorers were the Conquistadors—or Spanish Conquerors. These fearsome leaders were outnumbered by the Native Americans, but used their cunning skill and greedy desires to overcome the powerful Empires of the Aztec and Inca Indians. Cortes was helped by the fact that the Aztec Empire mistook him for a god—and, sadly, he misused his power and slaughtered or enslaved the entire tribe. Pizarro was not to be outdone. He tricked the Inca Empire by surrounding them at a party, even though he promised he would come unarmed. Soon, disease and sadness began to spread across the Mexican and Southern US regions, as more and more Spanish explorers settled on Native American land.