Conquest of Aztecs and Conquest of Aztecs and IncasIncas

What drove Spaniard’s to What drove Spaniard’s to adventure onto the mainland adventure onto the mainland

of the Americas?of the Americas?

ConquistadorsConquistadors• Spanish conquerorsSpanish conquerors• Came for _______,_______,________ and Came for _______,_______,________ and

adventureadventure• __________________—arrives in __________________—arrives in

Mexico/conquerors AztecsMexico/conquerors Aztecs• Supplies 11 ships, 508 soldiers, 2 Supplies 11 ships, 508 soldiers, 2

priests, 16 horses, and several small priests, 16 horses, and several small cannonscannons

How was Cortes able to How was Cortes able to conquer the Aztecs?conquer the Aztecs?

• Malinche– a young India woman Malinche– a young India woman helped translate and advise Corteshelped translate and advise Cortes

• From Malinche, Cortes finds that From Malinche, Cortes finds that many Indians hate the Aztec many Indians hate the Aztec overloadsoverloads

• Cortes gets these Indians to fight Cortes gets these Indians to fight against the overlords.against the overlords.

Aztec sacrificesAztec sacrifices• Indians sacrificed Indians sacrificed

thousands of thousands of captives, so there captives, so there was a lot of was a lot of discontent.discontent.

• ________________—________________—leader of the Aztecsleader of the Aztecs, , believes Cortes to be believes Cortes to be a god or a a god or a messenger of the messenger of the godsgods

• Sends ambassadors Sends ambassadors with gold and other with gold and other gifts hoping they will gifts hoping they will leave.leave.

• Aztecs drive Spanish out in a battle Aztecs drive Spanish out in a battle that wounds ½ of Cortes’ menthat wounds ½ of Cortes’ men

• Cortes’ retreats to plan Cortes’ retreats to plan • Aztecs resist until almost everyone Aztecs resist until almost everyone

has been killed or died of small poxhas been killed or died of small pox• Montezuma dies, probably stoned to Montezuma dies, probably stoned to

death.death.

New LeaderNew Leader• Aztec’s lead by Cuahtemoc(kwah-Aztec’s lead by Cuahtemoc(kwah-

Tay-mok) for about 3 months, then Tay-mok) for about 3 months, then Cortes takes overCortes takes over

Conquest of the IncasConquest of the Incas

Pizzarro in PeruPizzarro in Peru• Cortes inspires othersCortes inspires others• ______________________—ruler of the ______________________—ruler of the

IncasIncas• Lots of civil war Lots of civil war • Pizarro unites to capture AthualpaPizarro unites to capture Athualpa

RansomRansom• Pizzaro promises to set Atahualpa Pizzaro promises to set Atahualpa

free if he gives him a room of gold.free if he gives him a room of gold.

• Once gold is collected Once gold is collected Pizarro has Athualupa Pizarro has Athualupa strangled.strangled.

• 1/5 th of the gold is 1/5 th of the gold is sent to Spain sent to Spain

• The rest is divided The rest is divided among menamong men

• Pizarro assassinated in Pizarro assassinated in arguments over goldarguments over gold

Reasons for VictoryReasons for Victory• ____________________________________________________________• _____________________ among Indians_____________________ among Indians• _____________________ killed off many_____________________ killed off many• Superstitions---gods had abandoned Superstitions---gods had abandoned

themthem

Later Spanish ExplorersLater Spanish ExplorersHernando de Soto and Hernando de Soto and

Francisco CoronadoFrancisco Coronado

Hernando de SotoHernando de Soto• First to see the First to see the

_________________ _________________ RiverRiver

Francisco CoronadoFrancisco Coronado• First to see the First to see the

________________________________________________