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Conquistadors
Cortez and Aztecs
By: Nicolle Alves
and Morgan Miller
Standards
• 5.2 Identify the three major pre-Columbian civilizations
that existed in Central and South America (Maya, Aztec,
and Inca) and their locations. Describe their political
structures, religious practices, and use of slaves.
• 5.4 Explain why the Aztec and Inca civilizations
declined in the 16th century.
• A. the encounters between Cortez and Montezuma
• B. the encounters between Pizarro and the Incas
• C. the goals of the Spanish conquistadors
• D. the effects of European diseases, particularly
smallpox, throughout the Western hemisphere
Aztecs
• Central tribes, forced them to give them
money and “tribute” Mexico-Valley of Mexico
Capital-Tenochtilan
Polytheistic- believed in many gods like rain
(gods sun gods crop gods)
• Used other tribes as slaves and human
sacrifice (important) they thought it would
make their god happy and if they didn’t
sacrifice they thought the sun would not rise
or it will not rain for their crops
• Aztecs brought down by smallpox AKA
chickenpox
Mayas
• Mexican coast- Yucatan Peninsula
• Not just one major city-was much harder for conquistadors
to overthrow
• Region did not contain as much gold
• Polytheistic (believed in many gods)
• Had slaves, who could sometimes gain their freedom by
escaping
Inca
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South America Andes mountains, Peru
Capital was Cuzco
Polytheistic= believed in many gods
No written language, but had spoken language
(used knots as messages)
• Practiced animal sacrifice, and on special
occasions human sacrifice, and on special
occasions human sacrifice (children) they
thought sacrifice would make their god happy
Cortez
• Spanish explorer and conquistador
• He traveled with 180 men and 27 horses to conquer
to Aztec people in their capital of Tenochtitlan, in
1519
• The Aztecs were polytheistic they belived in many
gods and worshipped a god called Quetzalcoatl he
promised the Aztec he would return one day
• The Spanish were driven away but returned to defeat
the Aztecs once once and for all in 1521
• The Spanish destroyed Tenochtitlan and created a
new city, Mexico City that still exists today
Pizzaro
• Pizzaro tricked Incas after they delivered the
ransom to him.
• Pizzaro demanded that a room would be
filled with silver and gold, and Atahualpa
would return
• Incas were easily taken over by Pizzaro and
the Spanish in 1531 because they were in the
middle of a civil war (two or more countries
fighting).
How did the Spanish conquistadors and explorers change
Central and South America forever?
The Spanish conquistadors and
explorers changed central and
South America forever by taking
over their land and their religion.
In 2011 the majority of the people
in south and central America are
Christian and do not worship their
native gods any more.
Most of the Inca Maya and Aztec
culture and traditions have
disappeared forever to this day.
The End