1. Chapter 3, Lesson 4
ACOS #4: Explain effects of European exploration upon European society and Native Americans, including the economic and cultural impact.
ACOS #4a: Identify significant early European patrons and explorers and early settlements.
ACOS #4b: Locate the countries of origin of early European patrons and explorers.

2. Key Vocabulary Words
1. expedition = a journey taken by a group for a definite purpose
2. conquistador = Spanish for conqueror or soldier
3. empire = territories and groups of people controlled by one government or leader

3. Cortés Conquers the Aztecs
Spain’s rulers were still looking for gold
Hernán Cortés led an expedition to Mexico in 1519
An expedition is
A journey to achieve a goal
Cortés had an army of more than 500 conquistadors, horses, and weapons
Insert a map of your country.
A conquistador is
a Spanish word for conqueror

4. The Aztecs
The Aztecs had built an empire by conquering other Indian Nations.
They controlled a huge empire and lived in a city bigger than any in Europe.
Insert a picture of one of the geographic features of your country.
An empire is
many nations or territories ruled by a single group, government, or leader.

5. Cortés Conquers the Aztecs
The Aztec ruler, Moctezuma, welcomed Cortés in their capital city, Tenochtitlán.
Cortés wanted the Aztec gold so he put Moctezuma in prison.
The Aztecs fought Cortés and drove him and his army away.
Insert a picture illustrating a season in your country.

6. Cortés Conquers the Aztecs
Cortés made friends with other Indian nations who were the Aztec’s enemies.
Cortés defeated the Aztecs with help from:
Aztec enemies
Diseases from the Spanish
Weapons
Insert a picture of an animal and or plant found in your country.
After the Aztec’s defeat, Cortés explored Central looking for gold.

7. When Cortes and the conquistadors arrived in Mexico, how were the Aztecs living?
The were living in a huge empire and lived in a city bigger than any in Europe.
Other Indian nations helped Cortes defeat Moctezuma.
After Cortez, Spain sent explorers to Central and South America in search of gold.

8. Spain conquers the Incas
Spain sent Francisco Pizarro to South America to look for gold during the 1530’s.
The Incas were a powerful tribe who also had a large empire.
Pizarro fought and defeated the Incas.
Insert a picture illustrating a custom or tradition here.

9. Spain Explored North America
Spanish conquistadors also explored North America looking for gold
Juan Ponce de León explored present day Florida in He was looking for the “Fountain of Youth”.
In 1539, Hernando de Soto explored the southeast part of the United States, including Florida and Georgia.
Insert a picture of the head leader of your country.

10. Do you remember what you learned last year about Hernando de Soto?
You may remember from last year in Alabama History, that de Soto kidnapped Chief Tuscaloosa when the chief refused to give him men and women from his tribe. The only thing of value that de Soto had found up to that point, freshwater pearls, were lost in the battle. When Hernando de Soto died, his men weighted his body with stones and sank him in a river, so the Indians would continue to think he was immortal.

11. Spain Explored North America
In 1540, Francisco Vasquez de Coronado was a Spanish conquistador who led an expedition looking for gold.
Coronado and his men traveled over 3,500 miles looking for the cities of gold.
Insert a picture that illustrates some part of your country’s economy.

12. Why It Matters….
What the Spanish learned about the American Southwest helped future explorers for hundreds of years.