[Illustration: Spanish Soldiers]
_Cavalryman in armor_
_Pikeman_
_Arquebusier, c. 1540_
_Crossbowman arming his weapon_
_Wardogs_
_Swordsman_
With a few thousand soldiers Spain conquered the Americas. Most of the
soldiers were unemployed veterans of an army tempered by long campaigns
against the Moors in Iberia and the French in North Italy. They came to
America, wrote an eyewitness, “to serve God and His Majesty, to give
light to those who were in darkness, and to grow rich, as all men desire
to do.”
_Los conquistadores_ were tough, disciplined, and as ruthless as
circumstances required. Their weapons—evolved in the formal battle of
Europe—were the matchlock musket (sometimes called an arquebus), the
crossbow, pikes, lances (carried by cavalry), swords, cannon, and above
all the horse, which Indians universally regarded as a supernatural
being. This weaponry served well against organized armies in Central
America and Peru that fought in formations mostly with clubs, spears,
and slings. But in North America, the Spaniards faced skilled and
elusive archers who could drive an arrow through armor. The crossbow and
musket soon proved useless. Far more effective were sword-wielding
cavalry and infantry and (for De Soto) wardogs. In the one battle
Southeast Indians had a chance of winning (Mabila, 18 October 1540), De
Soto against great odds slaughtered his antagonists. Thousands died
against only 18 or so Spaniards. Foreshadowing things to come, this
battle demonstrated that Indians fighting with Stone Age weapons were no
match against European arms and tactics.
[Illustration: An infantryman armed his crossbow by pushing the
bowspring back with a lever, engaging the trigger catch, and
inserting a metal-tipped dart. This weapon was effective in Europe
against formations and armor but less useful against a foe who quite
sensibly soon learned to fight by stealth and avoid open combat.]
_Lever for arming the bow_
_Stock_
_Trigger_
_Bowstring_
[Illustration: The Spanish sword at its best was a superb piece of
craftsmanship. About 41 inches long, it was double-edged, razor
sharp, and flexible. A fine Toledo blade could be bent into a
semi-circle and withstand a hard strike against steel. At
hand-to-hand combat, Spanish swordsmen were unexcelled in either
Europe or the New World.]
[Illustration: Temple of the Sun, religious center of the Aztec city
of Teotihuacán. A priest ascending this immense pyramid seemingly
disappeared into the sky.]