The Spanish The Spanish Conquering Conquering

of the of the AztecsAztecs

What the Spanish Found…What the Spanish Found…

Empire in TroubleEmpire in Trouble The Spanish appeared on American shores The Spanish appeared on American shores

in the early 1500s. At that time civil war in the early 1500s. At that time civil war weakened the Aztec Empire.weakened the Aztec Empire.

In the Aztec Empire, a number of tribes In the Aztec Empire, a number of tribes began to rebel against their harsh Aztec began to rebel against their harsh Aztec rulers. Infuriated, Moctezuma sent huge rulers. Infuriated, Moctezuma sent huge attacks against them. attacks against them.

Empire in Trouble cont. Empire in Trouble cont. Rebellion was everywhere and the Aztec Rebellion was everywhere and the Aztec

were forced to fight in many areas at once. were forced to fight in many areas at once. Because their armies were spread all over, Because their armies were spread all over, they lost many battles. they lost many battles.

Also, war costs became very high. There Also, war costs became very high. There were few resources left for making new were few resources left for making new conquestsconquests

Higher war costs, less tribute (gold or food or slaves) from new Higher war costs, less tribute (gold or food or slaves) from new conquests, and a famine( loss of crops) in 1505 caused conquests, and a famine( loss of crops) in 1505 caused Moctezuma to demand more tribute from his conquered tribes. Moctezuma to demand more tribute from his conquered tribes. This demand led to even more resentment and rebellion This demand led to even more resentment and rebellion

Tenochtitlan Tenochtitlan

The Spaniards, according to the The Spaniards, according to the NativesNatives

(What the Natives thought of the Spaniards)(What the Natives thought of the Spaniards)

ARRIVAL OF THE SPANISH ARRIVAL OF THE SPANISH A thing like a ball of stone flies out of their bellies and rains fire…. If the ball hits a tree, it blows away in splinters, as though a magician had blown it away from inside.

ARRIVAL OF THE SPANISHARRIVAL OF THE SPANISH

Their battle dress and their arms are all made of iron…. They are carried on the backs of stags [horses] wherever they like to go.

ARRIVAL OF THE SPANISHARRIVAL OF THE SPANISH

Their skin is white, as though made of chalk…. Their dogs are great monsters with flat ears and long tongues which hang out."

These are the words used by Aztec messengers who tried to describe what they saw when they met the Spanish for the first time in Mexico.

The Conquering of the AztecsThe Conquering of the Aztecs

ARRIVAL OF THE SPANISHARRIVAL OF THE SPANISHHernando Cortes, the Spanish conquistador (conqueror), landed on the shores of central Mexico in April 1519, seeking adventure and wealth.

With him were over 550 men, 16 horses, 14 cannons, and a few dogs.

ARRIVAL OF THE SPANISHARRIVAL OF THE SPANISHHe was greeted by messengers of the Aztec ruler Moctezuma. Wanting to show the Aztec his power, Cortes had the ships' cannons fired. The Aztec were stunned. They rushed back and reported to Moctezuma.

ARRIVAL OF THE SPANISHARRIVAL OF THE SPANISHThe Aztec had never seen cannons or horses or men with white skin before. "When Moctezuma heard this report, he was seized with fright. His heart grew weak to the point of faintness…. And despair overcame him."

Cortes Conquers the AztecsCortes Conquers the AztecsMoctezuma first thought that Cortes might be Quetzalcoatl (keht sahl koh AHTL), an ancient god who had returned to earth to control the Aztec kingdom.

Moctezuma welcomed the Spanish into Tenochtitlan (the Aztec capital) saying, "It appears that our Lord has returned to his country. Go and receive him worthily."

Cortes Conquers the AztecsCortes Conquers the Aztecs•But soon he learned he had made a terrible mistake.

•Only a few days later Cortes took Moctezuma hostage in a palace guarded by 100 Spaniards.

•Moctezuma ordered vast amounts of gold and silver brought to the palace, hoping the foreigners would take it and leave his city.

•But they did not. Moctezuma remained a prisoner. Even worse, his people blamed him for the Spanish takeover of the capital. They felt he was to helpful towards Spanish.

Cortes Conquers the AztecsCortes Conquers the Aztecs

Spanish commander Panfilo de Narvaez Spanish commander Panfilo de Narvaez arrive at Mexican coast to take Cortes arrive at Mexican coast to take Cortes prisoner for conquering inland without prisoner for conquering inland without permission.permission.

Cortes leaves Tenochtitlan to fight Cortes leaves Tenochtitlan to fight Narvaez (leaves Pedro de Alvarado in Narvaez (leaves Pedro de Alvarado in charge), attacks during negotiations charge), attacks during negotiations (surprise) takes Narvaez prisoner, recruits (surprise) takes Narvaez prisoner, recruits Narvaez’s men to fight for CortesNarvaez’s men to fight for Cortes

Cortes Conquers the AztecsCortes Conquers the Aztecs

While in charge Alvarado, at Tenochtitlan, While in charge Alvarado, at Tenochtitlan, orders the attack of Aztec warriors while orders the attack of Aztec warriors while they are in festivalthey are in festival

Aztecs revolt and fight backAztecs revolt and fight back Moctezuma is killed, by own people or Moctezuma is killed, by own people or

Spanish?Spanish?• Spanish claim it was Aztecs, Aztecs claim it was Spanish claim it was Aztecs, Aztecs claim it was

SpanishSpanish

Cortes Conquers the AztecsCortes Conquers the Aztecs•Alvarado and his men escape battle to Tlaxcalan (Spanish allies) camp

•Alvarado sends word about the revolt to Cortes

•Cortes recruits natives and newly acquired Spanish soldiers

Cortes Conquers the AztecsCortes Conquers the Aztecs

The Tlaxcalan had  hated the Aztec for a long time, so Cortes had no problem persuading them to help him defeat the Aztec.

Cortez Conquers the AztecsCortez Conquers the Aztecs

•Other conquered tribes eagerly joined the army.

•In May 1521, the Spanish led a huge army of angry tribes against the Aztec capital.

Cortes Conquers the AztecsCortes Conquers the Aztecs•August 13, 1521,after fierce fighting, with most of their warriors dead from disease, starvation, or war wounds, the Aztec gave up.

•Within two years' time the Spanish had destroyed the Aztec Empire.

Why did the Why did the Spanish Defeat Spanish Defeat

the Aztec the Aztec Empire so Empire so

Easily?Easily?

The Aztec, with bronze and copper shields, stone knives, and woven-cloth armor, were no match for them.

Why did the Spanish Defeat the Why did the Spanish Defeat the Aztec Empire so Easily?Aztec Empire so Easily?

Second   •Moctezuma believed that Cortes might have been a god and allowed him to walk freely into the capital city.

•But Cortes saw the Aztec culture as something evil to be destroyed and replaced by the Christian faith. 

The two groups even fought by different rules.  •The Aztec usually fought to take captives to kill in a ceremony of sacrifice to their gods.

•The Spanish, however, fought to kill their enemies on the battlefield.

Why did the Spanish Defeat the Why did the Spanish Defeat the Aztec Empire so Easily?Aztec Empire so Easily?

Third

The Spanish took advantage of the weakened and rebellious state of the Aztec and Inca empires. 

Many tribes were angry against the Aztec so they were willing to guide the Spanish through their territory and  help them win their battles.

Tragically, the Spanish then turned and fought those helpful tribes once the Spanish got what they wanted.

Why did the Why did the Spanish Defeat Spanish Defeat

the Aztec the Aztec Empire so Empire so

Easily?Easily?

Finally

•Disease brought by the Europeans had a disastrous effect on the Aztec.

•Smallpox and measles, which the Aztec had never been exposed to, spread rapidly through their empires.

•Disease killed off many in their armies, and killed off many leaders too, leaving the Aztec even weaker.

Critical ThinkingCritical Thinking

On a separate sheet of paper, compare On a separate sheet of paper, compare the defeat of the Aztec by the Spanish to the defeat of the Aztec by the Spanish to the defeat of the Inca by the Spanish.the defeat of the Inca by the Spanish. What do you think would have happened to What do you think would have happened to

the Aztec and the Inca if the Spanish had not the Aztec and the Inca if the Spanish had not explored the Americas?explored the Americas?

BibliographyBibliography

http://www.sbceo.k12.ca.us/~vms/carlton/spanish.htm

Google Images: Cortez, Pizzaro, Inca, Google Images: Cortez, Pizzaro, Inca, Aztec, Moctezuma, AtahualpaAztec, Moctezuma, Atahualpa