1. Social Studies chapter 3 Lesson 4 Conquest of the Americas ©cjm 10/21/2009

2. 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 A conquistador is a Spanish word for conqueror

3. 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. An empire is many nations or territories ruled by a single group or leader

4. 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.

5. Cortés Conquers the Aztecs Cortés made friends with other Indian nations who were the Aztec’s enemies. Cortés defeated the Aztecs with the help from: 1.Aztec enemies 2.Diseases from the Spanish 3.Weapons After the Aztec’s defeat, Cortés explored Central looking for gold.

6. 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.

7. Spain Explored North America Spanish conquistadors also explored North America looking for gold Juan Ponce de León explored present day Florida in 1513. 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.

8. Spain Explored North America In 1540, Francisco de Coronado led an expedition looking for gold. Coronado and his men traveled over 3,500 miles looking for the cities of gold.