1.  Cortes and the Aztecs Looking for slave labor and a wealthy civilization Had a technological advantage over Aztecs Intimidated other tribes into joining him Montezuma and Qetzalcoatl Attack on Tenochtitlan Priests rebel Aztec weakened by smallpox

2.  Pizarro conquers the Incas Kidnapping of Atahualpa  Searching for cities of gold Explored parts of southeast and southwest U.S.  Growth of missions

3.  Encomienda system  Spanish class system Peninsulares, Criollos, Mestizos, Minorities  Mining and ranching Haciendas Vaqueros

4.  Cartier and the St. Lawrence  60 years of fighting between Cathlics and Protestants in France  Fur Trade New France founded – 1608  de La Salle – Mississippi River  Trouble settling along the Gulf of Mexico Settling of Louisiana  Rivalry with Spain