22 What is a Conquest?

Merriam-Webster defines a conquest as the act or process of conquering, something conquered, a person whose favor or hand has been won. The term was first used in the 14th century. To conquer is to gain or acquire by force of arms, to gain mastery over or win by overcoming obstacles or opposition, to overcome by mental or moral power. How are the origins of a people likely to include conquest? How is the expansion of a country likely to do the same? When power shifts, how likely is conquest to have been the cause? Can conquest occur without battle? If people suffer over a period of time, power slipping from them, have they been conquered? Consider these questions as you explore these materials.