The Aztec Conquest

The Aztec The Aztec were a warrior tribe located in the Valley of Mexico. Their Culture was at its peak in about the 15th century.

Aztecs They had a great city called Tenochitlán. At one point in their history the Aztecs had over 250,000 people in the city. It was The largest city in the world at that time.

Aztecs The Aztecas believed in Human Sacrifice and that a person had to be sacrificed every day so that the sun could rise.

Aztecs Their most important gods were Quetzalcoatl and Huizolopochl.

Aztecs The Aztecs spoke the Nahuatl language Words like aguacate, mecate, sacate were everyday words used by the Aztecs

Aztec Stone of the Fifth Sun

The Aztec Stone was used as a calendar and as a symbol of their culture.

The Aztec conquest The Aztec conquest was lead by the Spaniard Hernan Cortez.

Hernan Cortez ( )

Aztec Conquest Hernan Cortez was a gold miner in Cuba. He was sent to explore the west in search of slaves to replace the indigenous who had died because of illness and mistreatment and to trade.

Landing In the Spring of 1519 Cortez landed on the island of Cozumel off the coast of Yucatan.

Aztec Conquest Cortez arrived in Tabasco, Mexico in 1519 and encountered the Tabascan tribe. Cortez easily defeated the Tabascans in Battle. The Spaniard enjoyed a technological advantage

The Aztec Conquest The Spaniard had gun powder for Guns, Cannons. They had steel for swords and armor. The Spaniards also had the horse.

The Aztec Conquest The Tabascans gave Cortez and his men a gift of women and gold jewelry. Cortez was very interested in the gold and wanted more. One of these women was Malinalli Spaniards called her Dona Marina Mexicans called her Malinche- Traitor

Jerónimo De Aguilar Cortez also found a shipwrecked Spanish soldier named Jerónimo de Aguilar. Aguilar lived among the Mayan people for 8 years and learned the language and customs.

From his encounter with Malinche and Aguilar Cortez found out about the mighty and rich Aztec Empire. Cortez learns of the Aztec Empire

Quetzalcoatl Through Malinali and Aguilar Cortez learns of the legend of Quetezalcoatl. Quetzalcoatl was a god who had ruled the Aztec kingdom of Aztlan. He was vanquised but had promised to return in the year 1 read (1519) Quetzalcoatl was said to be light skinned and bearded. So was Cortez

Tlaxcala Cortez encounters the Tlaxcalans and loses many men fighting them. The Tlaxcala hated the Aztecs. The Tlaxcalans and Spanish unite to fight the Aztec.

Moctezuma Moctezuma was the King of the Aztecs and was unsure of what to make of the Spaniards. Were the Spaniards gods lead by Quetzalcoatl? Were the Spaniards men craving for gold?

Cortez meets Moctezuma

Cortez comes to Tenochtlan Moctezuma invites Cortez to the capital. Cortez takes Moctezuma prisoner in his own palace. Cortez orders Moctezuma to sign over the city. Moctezuma agrees.

Cortez learns of Velasquez Cortez goes to Veracruz, the city he established to fight Velasquez’ men (Governor of Cuba) who want to arrest him for treason. He convinces men to join him.

While Cortez was gone. Cortez left one of his men, Pedro de Alvarado in charge. Alvarado killed over a thousand Aztecs after seeing a human sacrifice

Noche Triste Cortez returns He packs up as much gold as possible and leaves. The Aztecs become angered and killed many Spaniards.

Small Pox The Aztec people were infected by the European disease Small Pox. Almost 90 percent of the Aztec died.

Conquered With the help of the Tlaxcalans and Totonacs, the Aztecs were defeated. Tenochtlan became Mexico City.

The treatment of the Indigenous The Spaniards mistreated the indigenes badly from the beginning. The Spaniards did not believe the Indians were capable humans. The Spaniard forced the indigenes to convert to Christianity

The new races Mestizo Sambo

Class Structure Penisulares-Spanish born whites Criollos-American born Spaniards. Mestizos, Mulattos-Mixed bloods Indigena, Negro, Sambos-full bloods

Encomienda System Wealthy Spaniards were allowed to come to the new world to claim land. The Spaniards could claim the land with slaves as long as they promised to convert them over to Christianity and Spanish culture and language.

1 What was Cortez’ purpose for going to Mexico?

2 Where did Cortez live before going to Mexico?

3 How did Cortez make money where he came from?

4 What was the name of the tribe he encountered first?

5 What advantages did the Spaniards have against the local people?

6 Who does Cortez meet after fighting the locals?

7 How did the person he met help him?

8 What did the Spaniards find that motivated them to continue their journey?

9 What did the Aztecs do when they learned of Cortez’ arrival?

10 Why did the Aztecs think that Cortez might be Quetzalcoatl?

11 How did the belief that Cortez might be Quetzalcoatl affect the Aztecs?

12 What was the name of the Aztec leader?

13 What ritual did the Aztecs perform daily?

14 What was the purpose for this ritual?

15 What did the Spaniards think of this ritual?

16 Describe the ritual? What would happen?

17 What did the Aztecs bring Cortez that disgusted him?

18 What did Cortez do to get King Charles V to support his mission?

19 What did Cortez’ men think of this action?

20 What did he do to the men who plotted to leave Mexico? What did he do to his ships?

21 What city did Cortez establish to legitimize his conquest?

22 What was the name of the tribe that almost defeated the Spaniards?

23 Why didn’t they defeat the Spaniards?

24 What did other tribes think of the Aztecs?

25 What would the Aztecs do to the other tribes?

26 When did Cortez arrive to Mexico?

27 How did Moctezuma and the Aztecs greet Cortez and his men?

28 Why did Cortez leave Tenochitlan? Who did he leave in charge?

29 What did the person he left in charge do?

30 What did Cortez make Moctezuma do?

31 What happened to Moctezuma?

32 What was la Noche Triste about?

33 What disease decimated the Aztecs?

34 What modern day city is Tenochitlan found on?

35 About how many people lived in the city of Tenochitlan?

36 How many Aztecs were killed during the conquest?

37 What two major European events motivated Cortez as a boy?

38 What was Cortez’ motto?

39 Why is the conquest of the Aztecs such a big deal?

40 What gift did the Spaniards give a local tribe that was seen as a sign of war?

41 When did the Aztecs realize the Spaniards were not gods?

42 How long did it take the Spaniards to Conquer the Aztecs?

43 What happened to the City of Tenochitlan?

44 What happened to the Aztec people, where are they now?

45 Why were the Spanish so into their religion?

46 What religion were the Spanish?

47 What was the purpose of the inquisition?

48 What happened to Aztec religion, customs and language?

49 What is the story behind “the Virgen of Guadalupe”?

50 Why was it so important for the people of “New Spain” to be European in appearance?