1. Conquistadors Cortez and Aztecs
By: Nicolle Alves
and Morgan Miller

3. Aztecs
Central tribes, forced them to give them money and “tribute” Mexico-Valley of Mexico Capital-Tenochtilan Polytheistic- believed in many gods like rain (gods sun gods crop gods)
Used other tribes as slaves and human sacrifice (important) they thought it would make their god happy and if they didn’t sacrifice they thought the sun would not rise or it will not rain for their crops
Aztecs brought down by smallpox AKA chickenpox

4. Mayas Mexican coast- Yucatan Peninsula
Not just one major city-was much harder for conquistadors to overthrow
Region did not contain as much gold
Polytheistic (believed in many gods)
Had slaves, who could sometimes gain their freedom by escaping

5. Inca South America Andes mountains, Peru Capital was Cuzco
Polytheistic= believed in many gods
No written language, but had spoken language (used knots as messages)
Practiced animal sacrifice, and on special occasions human sacrifice, and on special occasions human sacrifice (children) they thought sacrifice would make their god happy

6. Cortez Spanish explorer and conquistador
He traveled with 180 men and 27 horses to conquer to Aztec people in their capital of Tenochtitlan, in 1519
The Aztecs were polytheistic they belived in many gods and worshipped a god called Quetzalcoatl he promised the Aztec he would return one day
The Spanish were driven away but returned to defeat the Aztecs once once and for all in 1521
The Spanish destroyed Tenochtitlan and created a new city, Mexico City that still exists today

7. Pizzaro Pizzaro tricked Incas after they delivered the ransom to him.
Pizzaro demanded that a room would be filled with silver and gold, and Atahualpa would return
Incas were easily taken over by Pizzaro and the Spanish in 1531 because they were in the middle of a civil war (two or more countries fighting).

8. How did the Spanish conquistadors and explorers change Central and South America forever?
The Spanish conquistadors and explorers changed central and South America forever by taking over their land and their religion. In 2011 the majority of the people in south and central America are Christian and do not worship their native gods any more.
Most of the Inca Maya and Aztec culture and traditions have disappeared forever to this day.

9. The End