Ch. 3 Sec. 1 Conquest in the Americas

Columbus 1492, landed in the islands now called West Indies Drastic, far reaching consequences Tainos - first natives encountered, trusting and generous Relations soured with Christianity and treatment as inferiors

Conquistadors Spanish conquerors that came in waves after initial voyage Dominican Republic, Haiti, Cuba, Puerto Rico Seized their gold, forced into Christianity Superior weapons, horses, and disease immunity helped smaller groups conquer

Cortes conquers Mexico Spanish probe the coasts of the Americas from the Caribbean Hernan Cortes , succeeded where others didn’t Malinche (Dona Marina) -multiple languages and dialects Alliances with Aztec adversaries Tenochtitlan - capital of Aztec empire

Cortes conquers Mexico Moctezuma - Aztec emperor Feared Cortes might be an Aztec god-king Sent gifts and instruction to not continue Welcomes Cortes when he reaches capital Imprisoned by Spanish, sign over land Spanish, Aztecs and other natives all fighting for control, Moctezuma loses his life

Cortes conquers Mexico Cortes loses half his Spanish numbers and retreats but later returns to demolish Tenochtitlan and later built Mexico City Disease again aided the cause

Pizzaro takes Peru Cortes success inspired others like Francisco Pizzaro - interested in riches of the Inca empire in Peru Arrived in 1532 after bloody civil war between Incan ruler Atahualpa and his brother Slaughtered large numbers and captured Atahualpa and then killed him after receiving Inca ransom Aided by superior weapons, disease and Indians

Effects of Conquistadors From Peru the Spanish added much of South America to its growing empire Seized valuable goods, establish silver mines using native American labor Spain became Europe’s most powerful Native American conversion to Christianity Maya and many others continued to resist and preserved aspects of their own culture