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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.