Spain in Mexico After the fiasco of Magellan Spain decides to focus on the Americas Spanish base in Cuba Hear tell of ancient powerful civilization The Aztec
Dec 31, 2015
Spain in MexicoSpain in Mexico
After the fiasco of Magellan Spain decides to focus on the Americas
Spanish base in Cuba Hear tell of ancient
powerful civilization The Aztec
After the fiasco of Magellan Spain decides to focus on the Americas
Spanish base in Cuba Hear tell of ancient
powerful civilization The Aztec
Aztec CivilizationAztec Civilization
Most advanced of Native American civilizations
Warriors, engineers, poets, astronomers, etc.
Most advanced of Native American civilizations
Warriors, engineers, poets, astronomers, etc.
Aztec Civilization (cont.)
Aztec Civilization (cont.)
Came from north looking for sign of eagle holding a serpent
Built city in middle of Lake Texcoco
Tenochtitlan
Came from north looking for sign of eagle holding a serpent
Built city in middle of Lake Texcoco
Tenochtitlan
TenochtitlanTenochtitlan
City divided into four zones
Each zone subdivided into districts
Each district had multiple streets
City divided into four zones
Each zone subdivided into districts
Each district had multiple streets
Aztec Civilization (cont.)
Aztec Civilization (cont.)
City in the middle of a lake is pretty safe
Therefore the Aztecs can subjugate the surrounding people at will
Rule by installing friendly rulers and through marriages
City in the middle of a lake is pretty safe
Therefore the Aztecs can subjugate the surrounding people at will
Rule by installing friendly rulers and through marriages
Aztec SacrificeAztec Sacrifice
Human sacrifice a big deal to appease their gods
Done by other societies but not his hardcore
Sun God requires a sacrifice everyday
Human sacrifice a big deal to appease their gods
Done by other societies but not his hardcore
Sun God requires a sacrifice everyday
Aztec Sacrifice (cont.)
Aztec Sacrifice (cont.)
Multiple other gods require sacrifices as well
Legend of the Five Suns
Went to war constantly solely to capture people to sacrifice
Multiple other gods require sacrifices as well
Legend of the Five Suns
Went to war constantly solely to capture people to sacrifice
Spain in Mexico (cont.)
Spain in Mexico (cont.)
Hernan Cortes (1485-1547)
Spanish conquistador (conqueror)
Leaves from Cuba in 1519 with eleven ships, 500 men, thirteen horses, and a few cannons
Hernan Cortes (1485-1547)
Spanish conquistador (conqueror)
Leaves from Cuba in 1519 with eleven ships, 500 men, thirteen horses, and a few cannons
Spain in Mexico (cont.)
Spain in Mexico (cont.)
Cortes lands near Veracruz, Mexico
Aztecs report back “houses moving on water” and “white men riding upon deer”
Montezuma II
Cortes lands near Veracruz, Mexico
Aztecs report back “houses moving on water” and “white men riding upon deer”
Montezuma II
Spain in Mexico (cont.)
Spain in Mexico (cont.)
Cortes vastly outnumbered
However he has guns, horses, and cannons
La Malinche Native woman who served as guide translator, and later lover
Name is a curse word in Mexico today
Cortes vastly outnumbered
However he has guns, horses, and cannons
La Malinche Native woman who served as guide translator, and later lover
Name is a curse word in Mexico today
Spain in Mexico (cont.)
Spain in Mexico (cont.)
The Legend of Quetzalcoatl
The Feathered Serpent Only Aztec god who
cared for people Left over the ocean Would return the same
way and in the year that Cortes showed up
The Legend of Quetzalcoatl
The Feathered Serpent Only Aztec god who
cared for people Left over the ocean Would return the same
way and in the year that Cortes showed up
Spain in Mexico (cont.)
Spain in Mexico (cont.)
If Montezuma II had attacked early he would have defeated Cortes but the legend keeps him from doing so
Cortes moves inland and gathers allies
If Montezuma II had attacked early he would have defeated Cortes but the legend keeps him from doing so
Cortes moves inland and gathers allies
Spain in Mexico (cont.)
Spain in Mexico (cont.)
Cortes reaches Tenochtitlan with thousands of allies
Montezuma II (still confused) invites the Spanish in sans allies
Spanish are amazed by Tenochtitlan
Cortes reaches Tenochtitlan with thousands of allies
Montezuma II (still confused) invites the Spanish in sans allies
Spanish are amazed by Tenochtitlan
Spain in Mexico (cont.)
Spain in Mexico (cont.)
Both sides experience culture shock
Cortes is welcomed by Montezuma II and taken hostage
Aztecs run at sight of cannon but soon come back
Both sides experience culture shock
Cortes is welcomed by Montezuma II and taken hostage
Aztecs run at sight of cannon but soon come back
Spain in Mexico (cont.)
Spain in Mexico (cont.)
No one is for sure what happens next
Cortes ordered Montezuma II to calm his people down
Spanish say that Aztecs killed their own emperor by throwing rocks
Aztecs say the Spanish strangled Montezuma II
No one is for sure what happens next
Cortes ordered Montezuma II to calm his people down
Spanish say that Aztecs killed their own emperor by throwing rocks
Aztecs say the Spanish strangled Montezuma II
Spain in Mexico (cont.)
Spain in Mexico (cont.)
Either way the outcome is war
Cortes and allies eventually win (after years of warfare)
Either way the outcome is war
Cortes and allies eventually win (after years of warfare)