Download Mesoamerica Conquistadors

Mesoamerica Conquistadors
Aztec and Cortes
Unit 3
Ms. Hunt
RMS IB 2012-2013
The Arrival of the Spanish
• April 21, 1519- Spanish
ships arrive on the Yucatan
Peninsula
• Hernan Cortez- Leader of
the expedition
• Brought horses – First in
North America
Hernan Cortes
Conquistador
• Born in 1485 in Spain
• Cortes was a university law
student but dropped out of
school to become a New
World Conquistador.
• Conquistadors were Spanish
soldiers and explorers who
came to the new world to seek
glory and wealth.
• 1511 – Participated in the
Spanish conquest of Cuba
• Known for his bravery and
daring.
Why did Cortes want to conquer
Mexico?
• Gain wealth for Spain
and the Spanish King,
Charles the 5th
• Increase Spanish
territory
• Spread Christianity
• Gain personal wealth,
glory, and power for
himself
Why the Aztecs?
• The Spanish had heard
rumors of the great wealth
of the Aztecs
The Campaign Against the Aztec
Cortes gets two lucky
breaks
1) Montezuma, the Aztec
king, thought Cortes
might be a god, and
welcomed him with lavish
gifts and gold.
2) Discovered a Spanish
prisoner who could
communicate with the
Mayan
The Campaign Against the Aztec- part
2
• The Spanish were
impressed with the
grandeur and riches of the
Aztec capital
• But horrified by the
barbarism and cruelty of
the Aztecs.
• Cortes immediately
decided to put a stop to
the cannibalism and
human sacrifice
The Campaign Against the Aztec- part
3
• Cortes takes
Montezuma prisoner in
his own palace.
• After several months,
the Aztec people riot
• Cortes reorganizes his
army and attacks the
capital in 1521.
• The Aztec capital
surrenders and is
destroyed.
Why did the Spanish Win?
• Superior technologysteel weapons, guns,
artillery, horses, steel
armor.
• Indian allies – The Aztecs
were so hated, it was easy
for the Spanish to recruit
the help of other Indians.
• Disease – European
diseases, particularly
small pox, devastated the
Aztec population