Question

What was the difference between a conquistador and an explorer?

Answer 1

Conquistador is the Spanish term to refers to conquerors. Conquerors are those people who go to other lands in search of wealth, land and power. They also aimed to spread and convert native people to Catholicism - since the majority of Spaniards, including royalty were Catholics.

On the other hand, explorers are those who seek knowledge. They go into unknown territory, documenting what they find and seeking to explain its significance.

Answer 2

Conquistador : a conqueror, especially one of the Spanish conquerors of Mexico and Peru in the 16th century.

explorer: a person who explores an unfamiliar area; an adventurer.