European ExplorationEuropean ExplorationChapter 10Chapter 10Section 2Section 2

• Hernan Cortes was a Spanish soldier who conquered the Aztecs.• He landed in Mexico in 1519 and met Malinche, the daughter of a Mayan

leader. She quickly learned Spanish and became Cortes main translator. She also kept an eye on Aztec spies. Without her assistance Cortes would have not been able to conquer the Aztecs.

• In the 1400’s Spain and Portugal searched for new trade routes. In Asia, they knew that they would find expensive goods such as spices and silks.

• Christopher Columbus was one such explorer who thought he could find a new route.

• What did Columbus know? What did he believe?• When did Columbus and his crew set sail? When did they see land?

Europeans Arrive in the Americas

Europeans Arrive in the Americas

• When Columbus reached land where did he think he was?• Where did he land?• Spain and Portugal soon became fierce rivals for claiming land in the new

world. Each country tried to stop the other from claiming land in the Americas.

• In 1494, Spain and Portugal signed what treaty?• Define treaty.• What did the treaty set?• Define Line of Demarcation.• What land was east of the line?

Europeans Arrive in the Americas

• Because of the Treaty of Tordesillas, the language and background of Brazil are Portuguese.

• What rumor had the Spanish explorers heard?• Spanish rulers did not pay for the trips of the explorers. Instead, they gave

the conquistadors (conquers) the right to hunt for treasure. In exchange,….

Cortes Conquers the Aztecs

• When did Cortes sail to the coast of Mexico?• Who came with Cortes?• The Aztec ruler Moctezuma heard that a strange ship was

offshore and sent spies to find out about it. What had the spies never seen before? What did they think?

• Moctezuma thought Cortes….• Where did Cortes and his soldiers go? Were they welcomed?• What did the Spanish soldiers do?• Moctezuma was killed and with the help of native groups who

were enemies of the Aztecs Cortes surrounded and attacked Tenochtitlan.

• In 1521, the Aztecs surrendered after 240,000 Aztecs and 30,000 of Cortes allies had died. The Aztec empire was destroyed.

Cortes Conquers the Aztecs

Pizarro Conquers the Incas• Pizarro, like Cortes was a Spanish conqusitador. What had

he heard?• When did he set sail? Who went with him? What did Pizarro

do upon his arrival?• In 1535, Pizarro had captured most of the Incan empire

including Cuzco.• Within, 15 years the conquistadors had defeated two of the

most powerful empires in the Americas. Why?

Colonization• By the 1540’s, Spain had claimed land throughout much of the Americas.

In fact, Spain’s lands stretched from Kansas all the way south to the tip of South America with the exclusion of Brazil.

Spain Organizes Its Empire• What were the two most important provinces?• What was the capital? And of Peru?• Where did the most powerful citizens live and who were they?• Define Mestizos.• Who was of the lowest class and where did they live? Where did they

work?• Define hacienda.

ColonizationThe Effect of European Rule• What did Spain give its settlers?• What happened to many of the Native Americans?• In 1519, New Spain had a Native American population of 25 million. Only

3 million survived the first 50 years of Spanish rule.