Ive read about Columbus’s group of men in Hispaniola enslaving, raping, feeding people to dogs, and burning people alive. Im specifically wondering about Pizarro, Cortes, and Coronado. Did they use similar tactics? Were there any “less violent” conquistadors?
I just read The Lost City of the Monkey God by Preston and the second half of the book was very interesting on your question. The atrocities came in many different forms; besides rape, enslavement and theft the real atrocity was carrying disease. By one estimate the disease they carried wiped 80% of the local population.
Great read.