Spain in Mexico  After the fiasco of Magellan Spain decides to focus on the Americas  Spanish base in Cuba  Hear tell of ancient powerful civilization  The Aztec  After the fiasco of Magellan Spain decides to focus on the Americas  Spanish base in Cuba  Hear tell of ancient powerful civilization  The Aztec

Aztec Civilization  Most advanced of Native American civilizations  Warriors, engineers, poets, astronomers, etc.  Most advanced of Native American civilizations  Warriors, engineers, poets, astronomers, etc.

Aztec Civilization (cont.)  Came from north looking for sign of eagle holding a serpent  Built city in middle of Lake Texcoco  Tenochtitlan  Came from north looking for sign of eagle holding a serpent  Built city in middle of Lake Texcoco  Tenochtitlan

Tenochtitlan

 City divided into four zones  Each zone subdivided into districts  Each district had multiple streets  City divided into four zones  Each zone subdivided into districts  Each district had multiple streets

Aztec Civilization (cont.)  City in the middle of a lake is pretty safe  Therefore the Aztecs can subjugate the surrounding people at will  Rule by installing friendly rulers and through marriages  City in the middle of a lake is pretty safe  Therefore the Aztecs can subjugate the surrounding people at will  Rule by installing friendly rulers and through marriages

Aztec Sacrifice  Human sacrifice a big deal to appease their gods  Done by other societies but not his hardcore  Sun God requires a sacrifice everyday  Human sacrifice a big deal to appease their gods  Done by other societies but not his hardcore  Sun God requires a sacrifice everyday

Aztec Sacrifice (cont.)  Multiple other gods require sacrifices as well  Legend of the Five Suns  Went to war constantly solely to capture people to sacrifice  Multiple other gods require sacrifices as well  Legend of the Five Suns  Went to war constantly solely to capture people to sacrifice

Spain in Mexico (cont.)  Hernan Cortes ( )  Spanish conquistador (conqueror)  Leaves from Cuba in 1519 with eleven ships, 500 men, thirteen horses, and a few cannons  Hernan Cortes ( )  Spanish conquistador (conqueror)  Leaves from Cuba in 1519 with eleven ships, 500 men, thirteen horses, and a few cannons

Spain in Mexico (cont.)  Cortes lands near Veracruz, Mexico  Aztecs report back “houses moving on water” and “white men riding upon deer”  Montezuma II  Cortes lands near Veracruz, Mexico  Aztecs report back “houses moving on water” and “white men riding upon deer”  Montezuma II

Cortes burns his own ships

Spain in Mexico (cont.)  Cortes vastly outnumbered  However he has guns, horses, and cannons  La Malinche  Native woman who served as guide translator, and later lover  Name is a curse word in Mexico today  Cortes vastly outnumbered  However he has guns, horses, and cannons  La Malinche  Native woman who served as guide translator, and later lover  Name is a curse word in Mexico today

Spain in Mexico (cont.)  The Legend of Quetzalcoatl  The Feathered Serpent  Only Aztec god who cared for people  Left over the ocean  Would return the same way and in the year that Cortes showed up  The Legend of Quetzalcoatl  The Feathered Serpent  Only Aztec god who cared for people  Left over the ocean  Would return the same way and in the year that Cortes showed up

Spain in Mexico (cont.)  If Montezuma II had attacked early he would have defeated Cortes but the legend keeps him from doing so  Cortes moves inland and gathers allies  If Montezuma II had attacked early he would have defeated Cortes but the legend keeps him from doing so  Cortes moves inland and gathers allies

Spain in Mexico (cont.)  Cortes reaches Tenochtitlan with thousands of allies  Montezuma II (still confused) invites the Spanish in sans allies  Spanish are amazed by Tenochtitlan  Cortes reaches Tenochtitlan with thousands of allies  Montezuma II (still confused) invites the Spanish in sans allies  Spanish are amazed by Tenochtitlan

Spain in Mexico (cont.)  Both sides experience culture shock  Cortes is welcomed by Montezuma II and taken hostage  Aztecs run at sight of cannon but soon come back  Both sides experience culture shock  Cortes is welcomed by Montezuma II and taken hostage  Aztecs run at sight of cannon but soon come back

Spain in Mexico (cont.)  No one is for sure what happens next  Cortes ordered Montezuma II to calm his people down  Spanish say that Aztecs killed their own emperor by throwing rocks  Aztecs say the Spanish strangled Montezuma II  No one is for sure what happens next  Cortes ordered Montezuma II to calm his people down  Spanish say that Aztecs killed their own emperor by throwing rocks  Aztecs say the Spanish strangled Montezuma II

Spain in Mexico (cont.)  Either way the outcome is war  Cortes and allies eventually win (after years of warfare)  Either way the outcome is war  Cortes and allies eventually win (after years of warfare)