1. US History Ms.Swearingen
Spain Claims an Empire
US History
Ms.Swearingen

2. Spain Claims an Empire Main Idea: Why It Matters Now:
Spain claimed a large empire in the Americas.
Why It Matters Now:
The influence of Spanish culture remains strong in modern America.
Key Terms & Names:
Tready of Tordesillas
Missionary
Mercantilism
Amerigo Vespucci
Conquistador
Hernando Cortés
Montezuma
Francisco Pizzaro

3. The Line of Demarcation-
In 1493, Spain and Portugal wanted the Pope to decide who would control the lands that sailors from their countries were exploring. Pope Alexander VI drew and imaginary line.
The Line of Demarcation-
Portugal could claim all non-Christian lands to the east of the line.
Spain could claim all the non-Christian lands to the west.

4. Spain and Portugal Compete
June 1494, Spain and Portugal agreed to the Treaty of Tordesillas moved the line 800 miles to the west.
This allowed Portugal to claim much of eastern South America.
Allowed for the settlement of the Portuguese colony of Brazil.
Three main goals:
(The three G’s)
Gold
Glory
God
Missionaries- people sent to convert people to Christianity.

5. Europeans Explore Foreign Lands
Amerigo Vespucci- Italian sailor set out to find a sea route to Asia.
But his encounter was not Asia.
The continent was named after him because a German mapmaker liked his account of the lands he saw.

6. Vasco Núñez de Balboa-
- Spanish led an expedition through the jungles of Panama and reached the Pacific. Claimed the ocean for Spain.

7. Ferdinand Magellan- Portuguese sailor. 1519
Ferdinand Magellan- Portuguese sailor set out to sail West to Asia around the coast of South America.
Eventually made it to the Philippines and was killed. 1522, one ship made it back to Spain.

8. The Invasion of Mexico
By the time Columbus returned, the Spanish began their conquest of the Americas.
Spanish soldiers called Conquistadors, or Conquerors, explored the Americas and claimed them for Spain.
The Spanish arrival shook the Aztec empire, which dominated much of Mexico.
Hernando Cortés- Landed on the Central American coast 508 men in 1519.
The Aztec emperor Montezuma feared that Cortés had been sent by an Aztec god to rule. So, he gave Cortés gifts of gold and silver to get him to leave.

9. Spaniards marched inland and formed alliances with Aztec enemies
Spaniards marched inland and formed alliances with Aztec enemies. After a few months, they reached the Aztec capital Tenochtitlán.
Cortés held Montezuma captive, the Aztecs rebelled, surrounded the Spaniards.
On June 30, 1520 the Spaniards tried to sneak out- but fighting broke out and 800 Spanish and 1000 of their allies were killed- La Noche Triste.

10. The Aztecs had already been weakened by Smallpox.
Spaniards and their allies regrouped and in May of 1521, came back to Tenochtitlan.
The Aztecs had already been weakened by Smallpox.
Cortes held the city under siege for three months.
The city eventually fell, and the Aztec empire lay in ruins.
The Spanish built Mexico City on the ruins of Tenochtitlan.

11. The Conquest of the Incan Empire
The Inca empire, centered in the Cuzco Valley in modern day Peru.
1525, they ruled a 2,000 mile-long territory in the Andes Mountains.
The Inca possessed gold and silver.
How do you think the Spanish reacted?
The Spanish reacted with intrigue, wanting the riches because, of course, this was one of the reasons for the expeditions.
In 1531, Francisco Pizarro led an expedition of 180 men into Peru.
Like the Aztecs, the Incas thought the Spanish might be gods.
Inca emperor Atahualpa ordered Inca warriors not to fight

12. When Atahualpa went to the Spanish, they attacked quickly.
He offered them gold and silver in an attempt to free himself.
The Spanish strangled him anyway.
With Atahualpa dead, the Inca would soon collapse.

13. Machu Picchu- Peru

14. 4 Reasons for Spanish Victories
Spread of European diseases- killed millions of Native Americans and weakened resistance
Spanish were excellent soldiers and sailors.
Superior weapons
Spanish made alliances with Native Americans who were enemies of the Aztec and Inca.
Spanish Conquistadors acted brutally towards natives under their control.

15. Other Spanish Explorers
Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca and Estavancio, a slave of North African descent survived a shipwreck.
Wandered along the North American mainland
Heard tales of cities of gold from natives

16. Between 1539 and 1542, three expeditions set out to find these ‘cities of gold’
Francisco Vazquez de Coranado- American southwest
Hernando de Soto- Florida
Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo- California coast