By 1520, the widespread adoption of the Spanish arquebus, a shoulder-fired matchlock gun, revolutionized infantry tactics in the New World. This firearm provided European soldiers with a significant advantage over indigenous forces, changing the dynamics of warfare and colonization. The arquebus not only influenced military strategies but also had lasting effects on the social and political structures of the regions impacted by European expansion.

The widespread adoption of the Spanish arquebus in 1520 transformed narratives of conquest and exploration in poetry. Poets like Garcilaso de la Vega began to reflect on the moral implications of colonization, intertwining themes of violence and beauty in their works.