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Aztecs were a wandering Native American tribe who came to
Mexico during the 13th century. There they built a great
civilization including cities, pyramids, and temples. In
1519 Spanish conquistadors arrived in Mexico and
defeated the Aztecs.
By the 1400's and into the early 1500's, the Aztecs
had established one of the most advanced civilizations in
the Americas. Some of their cities at that time were as large as any in
Europe. Aztec peoples practiced a religion that affected every part of
their lives. To honor their gods, they constructed towering temples,
huge sculptures, and held ceremonies that included human sacrifices
When Cortes landed on the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico the
Aztecs greeted the Spaniards with food, and gold. The Spaniards set
up camp at Veracruz. Tales of 11 tall wooden towers reached
Tenochtitlan from the east coast. They were Spanish ships.
Aztec spies learned that these men were called Spaniards and
the news was immediately taken to Moctezuma. He decided to send
gifts of gold to the Spanish leader Hernan Cortes.
Spaniards burned their ships and set off on horses to
Tenochtitlan. Cortes set out from the Gulf Coast with about 500
Spaniards, 16 horses, and several cannons. On his way to
Tenochtilan, Cortes persuaded many enemies of the Aztec people to
join him as he marched through their lands. Cortes soon reached
Lake Texcoco and was greeted by Moctezuma. Moctezuma and Cortes
met and almost became friends. The Spaniards and their native allies
were invited to stay in one of the palaces by Moctezuma.
On November 8, 1519, Cortes began to fight battles. Cortes took
Moctezuma hostage and tried to control the city of Tenochtitlan.
When Cortes went to get more soldiers many Aztec nobles and priests
were killed at a religious festival by the Spaniards that Cortes had left
behind to keep order.
Moctezuma told his people, the Aztecs, to make peace with the
Spaniards, but these were not the words of a brave ruler so the
Aztecs elected Cuitlahuac, his brother, as the new ruler. Moctezuma
was pelted with stones for continually begging the Aztecs to make
peace with the Spaniards. Moctezuma fell, and the Spaniards carried
him back to the palace and he was never seen again.
Although many Spaniards were lost in battle, the Spaniards had
won. The Aztec capital was finally destroyed on August 31, 1521. The
final attack of Tenochtitlan was led by the
Spaniards who had 400 men with 150,000 native
allies. They returned to destroy Tenochtitlan
house by house and built Mexico City on top of
the destroyed city. Sadly, that is how the Aztec
civilization ended. The Aztec empire was
destroyed by the Spaniards, but the Aztecs have made a lasting mark
on Mexican culture.
DID YOU KNOW that an estimated 3/4 of Aztecs died from violence,
and diseases such as small pox, and measles, in the first century of
the Conquest!!
Name: _____________________
Date: _____________
The Spanish Conquest
Directions: Answer the following questions in complete sentences.
1. In your opinion which forces were stronger- Cortes’s forces or
Aztec forces? Explain.
2. How did Cortez gain allies to help conquer the Aztecs?
3. What were the key advantages of Hernando Cortes in defeating
the Aztecs?
4. What role did disease play in Cortez’s plan to conquer land for
Spain? How is this similar to the role of diseases in the
Columbian Exchange?
5. Why do you think Montezuma at first agreed to let Cortez stay in
Tenochtitlan?
6. Do you think the Spanish could have achieved their goals in
different ways? Why do you think they chose to fight instead of
working with the Aztecs?
7. Where did the Spanish conquest begin? How did it spread?
Make up two of your own questions based on the text in this
packet. Switch packets with a friend. Have then answer the
questions!