colonizar

To colonize — to settle and take political or economic control of a territory and its people, or biologically, for a species to establish itself in a new habitat. Central to how Spanish-language history and social studies discuss the European colonization of the Americas, Africa, and Asia.

• España colonizó gran parte de América entre los siglos XVI y XIX. — Spain colonized much of the Americas between the 16th and 19th centuries.
• Las bacterias colonizaron rápidamente la herida. — The bacteria quickly colonized the wound.
• Algunos países africanos fueron colonizados por varias potencias europeas. — Some African countries were colonized by several European powers.

In historical writing it's important not to confuse colonizar (to colonize, i.e., settle and govern) with conquistar (to conquer, i.e., defeat militarily) — the conquest of a territory often preceded, but is not the same event as, its colonization.

Often confused with conquistar.