Download Explorer Fact Sheet - 7

HERNANDO CORTES
Hernando Cortes was born in the village of Medellin in Entremedura, Spain, in 1485.
At the age of 14, he left home to study law at the University of Salamanca and
returned home two years later. He wandered the seaports of Cadiz, Palos, Sanlucar,
an d Seville and in 1504 joined an expedition of five ships that sailed for Santo
Domingo in the New World. Cortes wanted to become a conquistador (a conqueror as
well as an explorer) for Spain.
After arriving in Hispaniola, the center for Spanish exploration, Cortes got himself
noticed by Diego Velasquez who had decided to explore and conquer Cuba in 1511.
He asked Cortes to join his expedition. The expedition was successful, but it did
not to satisfy the Spanish craving for gold. Velasquez had heard about a wealthy
Aztec Empire in Mexico and wanted someone to lead an expedition there. He
needed someone that he could trust and who would remain loyal to him. Cortes was
overjoyed that he wa s asked to be the commander of the expedition to find the
Aztec cities.
Cortes rushed to make preparations for departure, because he feared Velasquez
might change his mind and appoint someone else to lead the expedition. The
expedition consisted of 11 ships, 500 soldiers, 13 horses, and some cannons. His
fleet anchored at Trinidad on the south coast of Cuba where more soldiers were
hired and additional horses were taken aboard. After sailing across the straits of
Yucatan, they landed on the island of Cozumel. Here they met a Spanish castaway,
Aguilar, who knew the la nguage of the Indians and became the interpreter for the
conquistadores. The expedition sailed around the Yucatan peninsula on March 4,
1519, and stopped at the mouth of a river in the country of Tabasco. Here they met
Indians who would not let them com e ashore even for water. Cortes and his
soldiers got into several tough battles and drove the Indians out of their fortified
town. After many Indians were killed, Cortes, through his interpreter, won the
peace and friendship of the Indians. Cortes stay ed in camp for five days to allow
his wounded soldiers to recover and to get their weapons in order.
The fleet set sail again and anchored next at San Juan de Ulua. They were greeted
by Indians who gave them food and fine gifts made of gold and silver. The
interpreter told them that the Indians had been sent by the great Emperor
Montezuma, ruler of the Aztecs.
Cortes was even more determined to conquer the Aztecs after seeing these riches.
He also made friends with Cempoala Indians who fought against the Aztecs. The
Cempoalas helped Cortes and his men establish a base on the shore at a village
Cortes named Vera Cruz when he claimed in the name of Spain. It was very
important to have a safe port where Spanish ships could land supplies and
reinforcements that Cortes would need to conquer the Aztec capital city of
Tenochtitlan.
Cortes realized that some of his men wanted to return to Cuba. The men did not
believe they could walk through 200 miles of jungle and swamps, climb mountains,
avoid thousands of hostile Indians and attack the Aztec fortress city which was
surrounded by water. To keep his men from deserting, Cortes carried out a
desperate and bold scheme. He removed the sails, rigging, compasses, and all other
valuables from all but one ship and burned the others.
Without a way to retreat, on August 16, 1519, the expedition started. In addition to
the Spaniards, there were 40 Cempoalan warrior chiefs and 200 Indians to drag the
cannon and carry the supplies. The men were accustomed to the hot climate of the
coast, but they suffered immensely from the cold of the mountains, the rain, and
the hail. Although Cortes asked for peace and friendship, and permission to cross
their land on the way to Mexico, the Tlaxcalan Indians refused. Throughout the
month of S eptember, Cortes and members of his expedition fought many battles
with the Tlaxcalans. The Spanish weapons and technology, and the boldness of
Cortes, kept his men from being wiped out. Cortes made his last peace offer. He
said that if it was refused that every Tlaxcalan would be killed. His peace offer was
accepted. The Tlaxcalans brought food, water, and gifts. On October 23, 1519,
Cortes set out (with an additional 1,000 Tlaxcalan Indians) to conquer Montezuma
and the Aztecs. As Cortes passed through mountain towns and villages, many
Indians told of cruel treatment by the Aztecs. These Indians were very willing to
help conquer Montezuma.
Cortes and his expedition were awe struck when they finally saw Tenochtitlan,
Montezuma's capital city. The cities and towns were even more beautiful and
contained more riches than the Spanish expected. Cortes arrested Montezuma and
locked him in h is palace. At this time, Cortes was called back to Vera Cruz to deal
with an uprising. When Cortes returned to Tenochtitlan, he found his men fighting
with the Aztecs. Montezuma was stoned and killed by his own people. Many
Spaniards were killed or drowned when they tried to carry sacks of gold across the
causeway to the mainland. A year later, Cortes returned to the Aztec capital city
and for two months fought a bloody battle. On August 13, 1521, Cortes claimed it
for Spain.
1. Was Cortez a pirate, hero, or invader? Give 3 reasons to support your answer
2. Was Cortez in exploration for God, glory, or gold?
3. If Cortez’s treatment of the Aztecs would have been different, give 3 predictions
as to how life would be different in the Western Hemisphere today? (2-3 sentences
or bullets on each prediction supporting your theory)