1. Chapter 2
Section 3

2. Spanish conquistadors
Conquistadors-soldiers who led military expeditions in the Americas
Hernan Cortes-sailed to present day Mexico, he had heard of a wealthy land ruled by Moctezuma II

3. Aztec Empire
Moctezeuma was the ruler of the Aztec Empire-it’s height of power was in the early 1500’s.
Tenochtitlan-capital, built in the middle of Lake Texcoco ( near present day Mexico City).
Buildings and riches impressed Spanish

4. Aztec Warriors Thousands of warriors
Cortes has 508 soldiers, 100 sailors, 16 horses, and some guns
Cortes makes allies with the Aztec enemies
Tries to be friends with Aztecs as a ploy-takes over
Many Aztecs killed by smallpox and disease weakening the empire.

5. Conquest of the Inca Empire
Francisco Pizarro-Spanish conquistador
Heard rumors about the Inca cities in South America ( Chile to Ecuador)
Had less than 400 men in his army
Inca weapons no match for guns
Captured the Inca capital-Cuzco
Killed the Inca leaders

6. Results of Spanish Conquistadors
Inca Empire destroyed
Aztec Empire destroyed
¾ of all Aztec and Inca populations killed by diseases the Europeans brought
Much of the riches looted and lost

7. Spanish Settlements New Spain- the Spanish settlements in the Americas
Most emigrants were Spanish- Jewish, Muslims and non-Christians forbidden to settle in New Spain
Most emigrants were men, ¼ of total emigration were women

8. Spanish Rule in Americas
Ruled by a system of royal officials
Council of the Indies –top officials in Spain
Two Viceroys ( royal governors)-appointed by Council to govern in Americas
Viceroyalty of Peru-governed most of South America
Viceroyalty of New Spain governed all Spanish territory in Central America and southern part of US

9. Settlements in New Spain
Pueblos-trading posts and sometimes central government
Missions- settled by priests to convert Native Americans to Catholicism
Presidios- military bases to protect towns and missions
“El Camino Real”-The Royal Road ran hundreds of miles from Mexico City to Santa Fe

10. Exploring the Southeast
Juan Ponce de Leon- landed in Puerto Rico in 1508
Conquered the island and founded the city of San Juan
Discovered gold in Puerto Rico and was appointed governor of the colony
Search in Florida for fountain of youth-never found

11. Hernando de Soto Traveled through Florida Explored the Gulf of Mexico
1539-landed in present day Tampa Bay
Traveled north through Georgia and Carolinas across Appalachian Mtns.
1541 discovered Mississippi River
1542 died after traveling into Oklahoma

12. Exploring the Southwest
De Vaca(1528) and 300 men landed in Florida
Traveled around Florida and eventually around the coast to the Mississippi River
Ship wrecked and 4 people survived including slave Estevanico
Captured and enslaved for 6 years
Escaped and returned to Spain-wrote a book and called for better treatment of Native Americans

13. Francisco Vasquez de Cornado
Wanted to find the legendary 7 cities of gold in Southwest America
Discovered the Grand Canyon
Went through Kansas and Oklahoma
Never found the cities of gold

14. Spanish settlements
Spain grew rich from the gold/treasure of Native Americans and grew food in South America
3-4 million people lived here
80% of the population was Native American

15. Treatment of Native Americans
Peninsulares-people who came from Spain to Americas
Held high government positions
Encomienda System-gave settlers the right to tax Native Americans or make them work in exchange, the settlers were supposed to protect them and convert them to Christianity

16. Treatment cont.- Most Spanish treated the Native Americans like slaves
Forced to work in terrible conditions
Spanish plantations-grew one kind of crop and were labor intensive
Haciendas-vast Spanish estates that grew cash crops~forced Native Americans to work
Forced to mine gold and silver

17. Role of the Catholic Church
Spanish king commanded they convert Native Americans to Christianity
Bartolommeo de Las Casa-protested the treatment of Native Americans ~ said could only convert people with love and kindness