<P> With the arrival of the Europeans following Christopher Columbus ' voyages , the indigenous elites , such as the Incas and Aztecs , lost power to the heavy European invasion . Hernándo Cortés seized the Aztec elite 's power with the help of local groups who had favored the Aztec elite , and Francisco Pizarro eliminated the Incan rule in Western South America . The European powers of Spain and Portugal colonized the region , which along with the rest of the uncolonized world , was divided into areas of Spanish and Portuguese control by the line of demarcation in 1494 , which gave Spain all areas to the west , and Portugal all areas to the east ( the Portuguese lands in South America subsequently becoming Brazil ) . By the end of the sixteenth century Spain and Portugal had been joined by others , including France , in occupying large areas of North , Central and South America , ultimately extending from Alaska to the southern tips of the Patagonia . European culture , customs and government were introduced , with the Roman Catholic Church becoming the major economic and political power to overrule the traditional ways of the region , eventually becoming the only official religion of the Americas during this period . </P>
<P> With the arrival of the Europeans following Christopher Columbus ' voyages , the indigenous elites , such as the Incas and Aztecs , lost power to the heavy European invasion . Hernándo Cortés seized the Aztec elite 's power with the help of local groups who had favored the Aztec elite , and Francisco Pizarro eliminated the Incan rule in Western South America . The European powers of Spain and Portugal colonized the region , which along with the rest of the uncolonized world , was divided into areas of Spanish and Portuguese control by the line of demarcation in 1494 , which gave Spain all areas to the west , and Portugal all areas to the east ( the Portuguese lands in South America subsequently becoming Brazil ) . By the end of the sixteenth century Spain and Portugal had been joined by others , including France , in occupying large areas of North , Central and South America , ultimately extending from Alaska to the southern tips of the Patagonia . European culture , customs and government were introduced , with the Roman Catholic Church becoming the major economic and political power to overrule the traditional ways of the region , eventually becoming the only official religion of the Americas during this period . </P>
which country set up most of latin american colonies
which country set up most of latin american colonies
Spain Portugal
Spain Portugal