CONQUISTADORS: THE RISE AND FALL

The series takes an unprecedented look into the brutal legend of the Spanish Conquistadors and uncovers the truth of this dark chapter in human history.

Beginning with the accidental discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus which ignited an era of exploration for the Spanish empire and marked a turning point in world history. Upon Columbus' return voyage to the Americas, he discovers that the Spanish left behind at Hispaniola had been killed by the indigenous Taíno, sparking a brutal chain of colonisation throughout the Caribbean. What follows is the ruthless ambition of Hernán Cortés, who travelled deep into the Mexican interior to conquer one of the great empires in the Americas: the Aztecs. His victory cemented the subjugation and submersion of indigenous populations.

Following Cortés' success, the series explores the conquest of the largest civilization in the Americas: the Incas, led by the Conquistador Francisco Pizarro. As Spanish colonies continued to grow throughout the Americas, the Spanish monarchy struggled to control the guardians of "New Spain" from afar. The discovery of a vast silver mine in Bolivia provided unlimited wealth, but also heightened tensions with the Conquistadors growing in strength and ambivalence to the Spanish monarchy.

Finally, the series examines the creation of the "Black Legend" and the fall of the Conquistadors as other European rulers propagated an anti-Spanish narrative due to Spain's wealth and violent practices in the Americas. The end of the era of Conquistadors was heralded, and millions of lives were obliterated for what would be the birth of a New World.

EPISODE 1: A NEW WORLD

The accidental discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus sparks an age of exploration for the Spanish empire, and a dark new chapter in the history of the Americas.

EPISODE 2: THE CARIBBEAN CONQUEST

Columbus’ return voyage to the Americas begins with bloodshed when he discovers that the Spanish left behind at Hispaniola have been killed by the indigenous Taíno, a chain of brutal colonisation throughout the Caribbean begins.

EPISODE 3: THE AZTEC CONQUEST

The ruthlessly ambitious Hernán Cortés travels deep into the Mexican interior to conquer one of the great empires in the Americas: the Aztecs. His victory cementing the subjugation and submersion of indigenous populations.

EPISODE 4: THE INCA CONQUEST

Following the success of Hernán Cortés’ over the Aztecs, conquistador Francisco Pizarro, sets his sights on conquering the largest civilisation in the Americas: the Incas.

EPISODE 5: THE GROWTH OF THE COLONIES

After decades of conquest, Spanish colonies have grown throughout the Americas. The Spanish monarchy struggles to control the guardians of ‘New Spain’ from afar and the discovery of a vast silver mine in Bolivia providing unlimited wealth heightens tensions.

EPISODE 6: THE BLACK LEGEND

Disdain and jealousy for Spain's wealth and violent practices in the Americas leads to other European rulers propagating an anti-Spanish narrative. The ‘Black Legend’ is born and heralds the end of the era of Conquistadors. Millions of lives obliterated for what would be the birth of a New World.