What did conquistadors often establish with Indigenous women during the conquest?

Conquistadors often established marriages with Indigenous women, leading to mixed offspring, as a strategy to solidify their power and integrate into the local societies. These unions not only helped the conquistadors gain acceptance and legitimacy among Indigenous groups but also facilitated the blending of cultures. The offspring from these marriages often played significant roles in the colonial society as intermediaries between European settlers and Indigenous peoples. This pattern of intermarriage was common in various areas of conquest, contributing to the creation of a new social and cultural landscape in the Americas.

While trade agreements, cultural exchanges, and religious alliances were indeed aspects of the interactions between Europeans and Indigenous peoples, they do not specifically capture the significant and lasting impact of these familial unions, which were crucial in shaping the demographic and social structures of colonial territories.