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The Spanish Conquest
of the Americas
Pre-Columbian life in the America’s
- Even before Columbus set sail to the
America’s the inhabitants were already
quite developed.
- The America’s were unknown to Europe.
- Mesoamerica: the area of central america
before the arrival of the Spanish.
- The Olmec (1500-400AD), Maya (1000BC1000AD), Inca (1438-1533AD) and Aztec
civilisations.
The Aztecs c.1325-1519AD
- 1325AD: Began building Tenochtitlan (Mexico
City).
- Highly organised, boys went to two types of
school: calmecac (academic) or telpochcalli
(military). Girls taught at home.
- Food: maize, meat, vegetables, chocolate
(reserved for nobles).
- Harsh punishments: death for commoner wearing
cotton clothes, cutting down a living tree.
- Warfare even before the Spanish arrived: life was
not peaceful, constant war with Tlaxcalas.
- Army consisted of two
layers: commoners and
warriors. Best warriors
were the eagle and jaguar
warriors.
- Prisoners were highly
valued – slavery!
- Religion: polytheism
(worshipped many gods
Examples?).Rituals:
sacrificed people and
animals.
- Agriculture in
Tenochtitlan: floating
farms, areas fenced off
and filled with mud.
Exploring: Columbus, Vespucci &
Magellan
- 1492: Columbus (Italian) received funds from
Spain to explore, sails across Atlantic Ocean.
- Lands in the Bahamas, thought it was India, and
claims land for Spain.
- Returns back to Spain in 1493, talked of gold in
the New World.
- Between 1499-1502, Amerigo Vespucci travels to
modern day Brazil. Realises its not India but a
whole new continent – given the name America
because of Vespucci.
- Ferdinand Magellan (Portuguese) also sails
on behalf of Spain in 1519.
- Travelled down the east coast of South
America and up the west coast.
- Why did the Spanish explore?
• Trade options (competitive market in Europe)
• Religion, to spread Christianity
• Riches, stories of golden cities
• Adventure, interacting with unknown people
The Spaniards Arrive…
- The Aztec civilisation
reached its height in the
early 1500’s but Spain had
not discovered them yet..
- The Spanish explorers who
ultimately discovered
these civilisations were
called Conquistadors
meaning ‘conqueror’.
- One such conquistador
was Hernan Cortes..
Interactions
- In 1519, Cortes sails with 11 ships and 450 soldiers
to Veracruz.
The Expedition
- Cortes made way inland and met many
different tribes and people under Aztec rule.
- Not all friendly meetings, many battles.
- Notable battle: Tlaxcalans, were not
defeated easily by the Spanish. Formed
alliance and acted as translators and guides.
- Continued towards Tenochtitlan (capital city
of the Aztecs).
King Montezuma
- Montezuma was leader of the Aztecs. Had heard
about the incoming Spaniards.
- Pre-emptively send them gifts of gold hoping
they would return home, had opposite effect.
- Cortes is welcomed by Montezuma, both honour
each other.
- Cortes was pleased with the welcome but does
not trust the Aztecs.
- Imprisons Montezuma, allows him to rule from
his cell.
Anger in Spain
- Back in Spain, there was anger over Cortes’ actions
(they were meant to be exploring, not conquering).
- In 1520, King Charles sends army to arrest Cortes and
take him back to Spain.
- Cortes leaves 100 men under General Alvarado in
Tenochtitlan and goes back to Veracruz to meet the
army head on.
- Cortes defeats Spanish army, wins over the remaining
soldiers.
- While he is gone, disaster happens in Tenochtitlan…
Massacre, revolt, death.
- Montezuma gives permission for religious festival
to be held.
- Festival involves human sacrifices and dressing in
warrior attire.
- After seeing this, Alvarado believes the Aztecs are
going to attack, he strikes first.
- Massacre of the Aztec worshippers enrages the
Aztecs.
- Aztecs form army and are about to attack when
Montezuma tells them to stand down. At this
stage - Cortes returns. Aztecs lose faith in
Montezuma and stone him to death.
- Now Cortes and Spaniards are stuck in palace and the
Aztecs are trying to get to them.
- They sneak out during the night, but the Aztecs have
taken down all bridges leading out.
- Aztecs find the Spaniards and kill most of them,
however Cortes escapes with a few soldiers to safety
of the mountains.
- Cortes makes it back to Veracruz and regroups with
700 Spaniards and 70,000 Tlaxcalan troops.
- They march back to Tenochtitlan and begin the Siege
of Tenochtitlan, no food or water going in.
- One of the Spaniards had smallpox, which Europeans
were immune to but the Aztecs were not!
Impact and legacy of the Conquest
- Aztecs eventually surrendered and their civilisation
came to a close, completely conquering the Aztecs.
- Smallpox was only one of the diseases that decimated
the natives.
- Dispossession of land and slavery.
- Advanced weaponry/armor/tactics was how 700
soldiers could defeat a civilisation of thousands.
- Vast amounts of gold sent back to Spain.
- Mexico’s struggle for freedom/denial of cultural
identity. Gained independence 1821.
- Mexico trying to preserve Aztec culture.
What about the Incas and Mayas?
- Conquered later, over many years.
- The Spanish faced tough terrain and each
civilisation was spread out unlike the Aztecs
who had a capital city and were concentrated
in one general area.
You are a journalist for – The Madrid Times
OR the Tenochtitlan Chronicle
Write a headline for what you have learnt of
the Spanish Conquest of the America’s so far.
This headline should capture what you think is
the most important aspect.
You will be sharing with the class.