Why did the Aztecs not attack

the Spanish? Spanish had arrived with 1000’s of auxilliaries

Aztec culture was very superstitious and fatalistic

Cortez/Quetzalcoatl accounts: Are post conquest and written by Spanish:

The Aztec believed that the Cortez/Spanish were the returning god/king Quetzalcoatl

It had been prophesized that Quetzalcoatl would return during the time period of Spanish arrival

Over the next few weeks, Cortez/Spanish are given a tour of the city as Motecuhzoma’s guests

Royal zoo,viary, Tlaltelolcomarket

New foods: Xocolatl, tortillas , chilli, tobacco

Temple district/ Templo mayor

Spanish are shocked by blood sacrifices

Tzompatli “Skull rack” Spanish estover 36,000 skulls

Spanish in Tenochtitlan

Motecuhzoma arrested

As tensions rise, revolt begins-

Motecuhzoma is placed under house

arrest

Cortez demands:

gods within the Templo Mayor be taken

down (catholic virgin/cross put in its place)

ALL sacrifices stopped

Revolt begins

The 2nd expedition- Narvaez May 1520- 2nd Mexican expedition sent

by Gov Velazquez arrives to arrest Cortez

Led by Panfilo de Narvaez

As Cortez hears this, he leaves Pedro de Alvarado in charge and heads to Cempoala with 250 men.

Defeats Narvaez and convinces the expedition to join him in Tenochtitlan.

The Toxcatl Massacre

As Cortez fights

Narvaez, Pedro

de Alvarado

massacres

thousands at

“Toxcatl” (May)

festival.

When Cortez

enters the city,

is abandoned

and in revolt.

The Death of Motecuhzoma Cuitlahuac (Motechuzoma’s brother) is

elected the new emperor

There are two account of Motecuzohmas

death:

Spanish say that while calming the crowds he is

hit with a stone projectile and mortally wounded

Indian say Cortes had him garroted.

His body is later found in the Lake Texcoco.

“La Noche Triste” Cortez and allies are surrounded

Spanish soldiers are sacrificed at the Templo Mayor

June 30/July 1 1520- Spanish/allies retreat

Led by Cuitlahuac the Spanish are caught by surprise on the Tacuba causeway

Cortez looses 2/3 of his men

Cortez retreats to Cempoala.

Small pox

One of Narvaez’s slaves had smallpox

and introduced it to the Indian

populations.

The Aztecs had no immunity to

the European disease and it

spread quickly

Thousands die from the disease.

The new emperor, Cuitlahuac

who has defeated the Spanish,

dies only after a few months of

rule. Cuahtemoc, (cousin)

becomes the new emperor.

The Fall of Tenochtitlan 5 months later, Cortez rebuilds his

forces and marches on the city on Dec 26, 1520

Supported by thousands the city is surrounded. All bridges and the aqueduct are destroyed.

After 8 months the last Aztec Emperor Cuauhtemoc surrenders on Aug 13, 1521

The Aztec were the last in a long line of warrior

civilizations that flourished in Mesoamerica.