The Aztecs are Conquered

Hernando Cortes had arrived in Mexico from Cuba

He had begun establishing colonies on the islands of the Caribbean Sea

Because of stories of great wealth and riches, Cortes was encouraged to gain some of the Aztecs’ land and wealth

Disadvantages vs. Advantages

Cortes was one group of Spanish soldiers who became known as conquistadors

His challenge: His army was greatly outnumbered (only about 500 men)

Cortes had metal armor to protect his men against the Aztec stone weapons

They also had muskets and horses

Allies Cortes had made allies who were willing

to fight with the Spanish, many of these people did not want to live under Aztec rule

Dona Marina was an Aztec woman who had become a Christian. She was willing to help Cortes fight

She helped communicate to the native people of Mexico

Allies unknown

The Spanish did not realize it at the time, but they carried a germ that spread smallpox

Some say thousands of Aztecs caught Smallpox after Cortes arrived

When Cortes returned late in 1520 with many more allies, the mighty empire of the Aztecs fell

Founding New Spain After the conquest of the Aztecs, the

Spanish destroyed Tenochtitlan.

Smallpox once again helped the Spanish by spreading disease throughout Mexico

Spain established the colony of New Spain with a capital of Mexico City

Making New Spain home

Spanish officials came to set up a government, make laws, and build schools and universities.

Roman Catholic priests came to convert the native people to Christianity

Spanish leaders discouraged natives from continuing to sacrifice people to their gods

Colonists also came to New Spain to live

Conquests Continue The Inca Empire lay to the South, which

controlled a huge portion of the land in western South America

Ten years after the Spanish began their conquest, they sent Francisco Pizarro to conquer the Incas

By 1532, Pizarro captured Cuzco, the capital city of the Empire. By 1535 a new capital was formed (Lima)

A new culture was born – part Spanish, part Indian

Search for Gold Hernando de Soto led expeditions to search

for gold and other riches in the Americas

One story told was about the kingdom of Cibola

The legend told by Esteban (once enslaved) about Cibola did not fade

Many could not find this city, some feel it is because it did not exist

Explorer Map Label the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic ocean

and the Pacific Ocean Color land and water Label and trace routes of 4 different

explorers Create a map key

Society in New Spain

A new way of life had formed in New Spain as more and more colonists came to live

At the top of society were the peninsulares, which were people born in Spain

Next, came creoles – people who have a Spanish background but were born in America

Mestizos followed and were the largest group (mixed Indian and Spanish background

Peninsulares

They were wealthy and powerful

They owned plantations or large farms with many workers

Other peninsulares received grants called encomienda which granted control of all natives who lived on an area of land

In cities Colonists became merchants and

shopkeepers

They would work for the colonial government

Some had small businesses where they made furniture or clothing

More Changes for Natives

Many encomienda owners put the natives to work as farmers, miners, and servants

Some were forced to work and did not even have enough to eat

One type of encomineda was run by Catholic missionaries who would try to teach the ways of their religion. Sometimes they even taught European farming practices

Speaking Out A priest named Bartolome de Las Casas

spoke out against the mistreatment of native people

His efforts had some success because he persuaded Spain to pass laws in 1542 saying the natives must be paid for their work

However, these laws were not really enforced