Fall of the Aztec Empire

I. The Conquest A. First contact between civilizations of Old World and New World B. 1519: Hernán Cortés sails to Mexico in search of ______ Trained in law Had no military training, but had the respect of his men. Hero? Can someone who is responsible for the fall of a civilization be considered a hero? Answer on back of paper.

II. Cortés and the Aztecs Meet A. Malinche She became a translator Treated well by Spanish Believed to have fallen in love with Cortés Seen as a traitor by some Mexican B. Hernán Cortés’ first encounter with Aztec Ambassadors Aztecs gave gold Spaniards showed their guns, horses, and armor - the natives had never seen these before! Cortes crosses Mexico in search of the Aztec (and their gold). Along the way he encounters the Tlaxcalans, which he fights before they give in to his demand to help the Spanish defeat the Aztec.

III. Cortes Heads Inland What does Cortes do to keep his men from a mutiny? What benefit comes from gaining native allies?

IV. War of the Worlds A. 1519 Moctezuma is the ruler of the Aztecs. The meeting Hernán Cortés and Moctezuma became one of histories most important meetings. It was a meeting of two worlds. The old meets the new. B. Thinking Hernán Cortés was the god Quetzalcoatl, Moctezuma allows Cortes into the grand city.

V. One of the greatest meeting in world history When Cortés and Moctezuma meet on the grand causeway, the new and old world met for the first time. Moctezuma, thinking Cortés was a god, invited him in to stay at the royal palace. He ended up staying for 6 months. Cortés was impatient, and pushed Moctezuma to provide gold. When Moctezuma questioned this, he was captured by the Spanish and held captive in his own palace

The bigger they come… The Aztecs learn that the Spaniard must not be gods when they stop a sacrifice from taking place. Moctezuma is killed, by whom we don’t know. The Spaniards take what they can and run. This is called the sad night, because while the Spaniard leave Tenochtitlan they are attacked and only a few dozen survive.

The Invisible Killer The Spaniard are gone from Tenochtitlan, but they leave behind a silent killer…small pox. Cortés returns with a massive army of natives to attack a now small pox weakened Aztec city. First thing Cortés does is shut off water to the city, then food. He then waits until they are to weak to put up a strong fight Though weakened by sickness and starvation the Aztec were able to defend Tenochtitlan for over 3 months. After the Spanish won,Cortés orders Tenochtitlan destroyed.

Cortes was most motivated by his… commitment to the King of Spain. attitude towards people of a less modern society. ego. greed. glory or fame.