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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!