Chapter 3 Section 1Chapter 3 Section 1

The First Global Age: Europe, The First Global Age: Europe, the Americas, and Africathe Americas, and Africa

Conquest in the AmericasConquest in the Americas► Conquistadors followed after Columbus Conquistadors followed after Columbus

discovered the Caribbean Islandsdiscovered the Caribbean Islands Seized gold from the nativesSeized gold from the natives Forced them to convert to ChristianityForced them to convert to Christianity Spread disease: smallpox, measles, influenzaSpread disease: smallpox, measles, influenza

The ConquistadorsThe Conquistadors

► Cortes in MexicoCortes in Mexico Arrived in Mexico Arrived in Mexico

in 1519 with 600 in 1519 with 600 men, men,

16 horses, and a 16 horses, and a few canonsfew canons

Cortes created Cortes created alliances with alliances with conquered natives conquered natives that did not like that did not like the Aztecsthe Aztecs

► Moctezuma’s Moctezuma’s dilemmadilemma

Leader of the Leader of the Aztecs, he Aztecs, he wondered if Cortes wondered if Cortes might be might be Quetzalcoatl, the Quetzalcoatl, the god-king who god-king who vowed to return vowed to return from the east. from the east.

Moctezuma sent Moctezuma sent Cortes gifts of gold Cortes gifts of gold and silverand silver

► Fall of TenochtitlanFall of Tenochtitlan at first, the Spanish were welcomed in the city, at first, the Spanish were welcomed in the city,

however, fighting between the two groups however, fighting between the two groups eventually led to the downfall of the cityeventually led to the downfall of the city

► Pizarro in Peru Pizarro in Peru (arrived in 1532)(arrived in 1532)

He captured the He captured the leader of the Incas leader of the Incas (Atahulpa) and (Atahulpa) and demanded a demanded a ransom. When the ransom. When the ransom was paid, ransom was paid, they killed him they killed him anyway. anyway.

This allowed them This allowed them to capture the to capture the whole empirewhole empire

Reasons for VictoryReasons for Victory► Superior military technologySuperior military technology► Discontented Indians helped the Spanish defeat the Discontented Indians helped the Spanish defeat the

Aztec and Incan empiresAztec and Incan empires► Disease killed tens of thousands of IndiansDisease killed tens of thousands of Indians► Many Indians believed that the disasters they Many Indians believed that the disasters they

suffered marked the world’s end. They thought the suffered marked the world’s end. They thought the Europeans were gods.Europeans were gods.