in the 16th century, spanish conquistadores gained the whole of what later became latin america, except some british and french colonies in northeastern south america, and brazil, which belonged to portugal. the spanish concentrated on conquest, unlike the portuguese who focused on trading. they eventually developed a vast colonial empire, in contrast to the portuguese who ruled a few islands and coastal cities along the indian ocean. when spain and portugal were united under king philip ii of spain , their combined empire was the largest on earth.