ConquistadorsSpanish Conquerors of South America

Cortes and PizarroCortes: Conqueror of the Aztecs in MexicoPizarro: Conqueror of the Incas in Peru

Cortes Pizarro

The Aztec and Inca empires

The Aztecs of MexicoKing – Montezuma Tenochtitlan was the capital of the Aztec empire and was built

on islands on a huge lake

Montezuma – King of the Aztecs

Aztec civilisationA warlike civilization, like the Celts in EuropeBuilt many elaborate temples in the shape of PyramidsBelieved in Human Sacrifice to please their Gods

Cortes The Aztecs believed Cortes was a God when he was first

seen by themThe Aztecs had never seen horses and thought the

Spaniards were Centaurs (half man, half horse)

CortesCortes was welcomed by Montezuma to TenochtitlanHowever ordinary Aztecs became angry when they saw the

Spanish robbing all the city’s goldDrove Cortes out of the cityHowever Cortes later returned with other “native” allies and

massacred the AztecsAztecs were also killed by diseases, especially smallpoxCortes was later named Governor of “New Spain” (Mexico)

and built Mexico City on the ruins of Tenochtitlan

Matchup ExerciseCortes Conquered the AztecsMexico Aztec TemplesMontezuma half man, half horseTenochtitlan Aztec religious traditionCentaur new to the AztecsHorses Where the Aztecs livedPyramids Conquered the IncasSacrifice Located in PeruPizarro Aztec KingIncas Aztec Capital

PizarroPizarro was a Spanish Adventurer who had heard of the Incas

and wanted to capture their GoldThe Incas were a well developed and peaceful civilisation who

lived in what is now known as PeruWhen the Incas saw Pizarro and his small army they were

curious and friendly – however Pizarro took advantage of them and conquered their capital, Cuzco

Life after the ConquistadorsFor the Incas and Aztecs, life after the Conquistadors was very

hard – they were used as slaves, treated very harshly and died from diseases brought by the Europeans

The Incas were the first to grow potatoes and the Spanish brought potatoes to Europe from the Incas

MatchupPeru Mountains where the Incas livedPizarro Conqueror of the IncaIncas Disease which killed many IncasPotatoes Weapon used by the SpanishGold Country where Incas livedCuzco Vegetable grown by IncasAtahualpa Conquered by PizarroCannons King of the IncaAndes Inca Capital CitySmallpox What the Spanish wanted