Francisco Pizarro was a Spanish conquistador best known for leading the expedition that conquered the Inca empire in the early 16th century. Born in Trujillo, Spain, into a modest background, he had limited formal education and initially pursued a military career. He traveled to the Americas in the early 1500s, where he participated in expeditions in the Caribbean and Central America, gaining experience in exploration and colonial administration. In the 1520s Pizarro organized voyages along the west coast of South America, motivated by reports of a wealthy empire. With a small force, he captured the Inca emperor Atahuallpa in 1532 at Cajamarca, a decisive event that allowed the Spanish to take control of the Inca empire. He later advanced to Cuzco and established Spanish authority in the region, founding the city of Lima in 1535. Pizarroās conquest contributed to Spainās expanding empire but also led to profound changes for Indigenous societies.
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