Christopher Columbus was sponsored by Spain to find a quick trade route to Asia, but instead landed in the Americas in 1492 and claimed the land for Spain. Spain then explored, conquered, and settled areas across Florida, Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean islands, establishing Spanish as the dominant language. Portugal also established colonies along the coast of South America and in Brazil, where Portuguese became the primary language. Together, the Spanish and Portuguese colonies shaped Latin America through spreading their cultures, languages, and Roman Catholic religion across the conquered lands.

7. Latin America: a combination of Spanish colonies (brown) and Portuguese colonies (tan).

9. Languages in Latin America green -Spanish orange -Portuguese blue -French