Читать книгу A Beginner's History - William H. Mace - Страница 11

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ROUTES OF THE CONQUERORS, CORTÉS AND PIZARRO

Their conquests of Mexico and of Peru brought untold stores of riches to Spain

Pizarro finds great riches in Peru

16. Pizarro's Voyages. Another Spaniard, Francisco Pizarro, dreamed of finding riches greater than De Leon or Cortés had ever heard of. He set out for Peru with an army of two hundred men. Reaching the coast, he started inland and in a few days came to the foot of the Andes. They crossed the mountains and, marching down the eastern side, the Spaniards came upon the Inca, the native ruler, and his army. By trickery they made the Inca a prisoner, put him to death, and then subdued the army. The Spaniards then marched on to Cuzco, the capital of Peru, where they found enormous quantities of gold and silver. Never before in the history of the world had so many riches been found. This great wealth was divided among the Spaniards according to rank. But the greedy Spaniards fell to quarreling and fighting among themselves, and Pizarro fell by the hand of one of his own men.