The Spanish The Spanish ConquistadorsConquistadors

1. Hernan Cortez1. Hernan Cortez Spanish conquistador- In Spanish conquistador- In

15191519, the Governor of , the Governor of Hispaniola hired Cortez Hispaniola hired Cortez to lead an expedition to lead an expedition into Mexico.into Mexico.

He took He took 600600 men, men, 1616 horses, and horses, and 1414 cannons cannons with him into Mexico.with him into Mexico.

2. Cortez in Mexico2. Cortez in Mexico Once he landed in Once he landed in MexicoMexico he made he made

alliances with some of the native tribes alliances with some of the native tribes there. He was able to convince many of there. He was able to convince many of them to join his expedition.them to join his expedition.

He began to hear more rumors that there He began to hear more rumors that there were Indians, the were Indians, the AztecsAztecs, who lived , who lived further inland that had a further inland that had a lotlot of of goldgold. .

3. Cortez meets the Aztecs3. Cortez meets the Aztecs

Cortez used an interpreter who had once

been an Aztec slave and spoke their language.

4. Cortez and the Aztecs4. Cortez and the Aztecs The Aztecs had also heard The Aztecs had also heard

rumors – how these men were rumors – how these men were light skinned and had strange light skinned and had strange animals and weapons.animals and weapons.

Montezuma II thought that Montezuma II thought that CortezCortez was the god, was the god, QuetzalcoatlQuetzalcoatl, who was fair , who was fair skinned and had promised to skinned and had promised to return one day. So he gave return one day. So he gave him gold and allowed him him gold and allowed him to enter the great city of to enter the great city of TenochtitlanTenochtitlan..

While they were there, the Spanish tried to convert the Aztecs While they were there, the Spanish tried to convert the Aztecs to Christianity.to Christianity.

Spanish solidified their position by marrying native women, Spanish solidified their position by marrying native women, creating a large creating a large MestizoMestizo (mixed race) population. (mixed race) population.

To exploit the land , the Spanish forced native workers to labor To exploit the land , the Spanish forced native workers to labor in in encomiendaencomienda (natives acted as slave labor on farms ranches, (natives acted as slave labor on farms ranches, mines)mines)

Even though they were greatly outnumbered, Cortez had Even though they were greatly outnumbered, Cortez had horses and better weapons and armor. He captured horses and better weapons and armor. He captured Montezuma IIMontezuma II and tried to rule through him. They seized the and tried to rule through him. They seized the Aztec gold and destroyed their temples.Aztec gold and destroyed their temples.

5. “Invisible Warrior”5. “Invisible Warrior” Another reason the Spanish were so Another reason the Spanish were so

successful in defeating the Aztecs: thesuccessful in defeating the Aztecs: the invisible warriorinvisible warrior. The Spanish brought . The Spanish brought with them diseases that the Aztecs did with them diseases that the Aztecs did not have immunity for: smallpox and not have immunity for: smallpox and influenza were two of the deadliest.influenza were two of the deadliest.

6. End of the Aztec Empire6. End of the Aztec Empire MontezumaMontezuma was killed in 1520. Most believe was killed in 1520. Most believe

he was killed by his own people when he he was killed by his own people when he tried to stop a rebellion.tried to stop a rebellion.

In 1521, the Spanish blocked traffic to and In 1521, the Spanish blocked traffic to and from the city and then burned Tenochtitlan to from the city and then burned Tenochtitlan to the ground and later built a new city, Mexico the ground and later built a new city, Mexico City, on the same site.City, on the same site.

CortezCortez became very wealthy and famous. In became very wealthy and famous. In 1540 he returned to Spain .1540 he returned to Spain .

7. Francisco Pizarro7. Francisco Pizarro Spanish Conquistador Spanish Conquistador

– arrived in – arrived in PeruPeru to seek his fame and to seek his fame and fortune.fortune.

In 1532, he led only In 1532, he led only 150150 men to the edge of men to the edge of the Incan Empire.the Incan Empire.

8. Pizarro and Atahualpa8. Pizarro and Atahualpa The The IncanIncan Emperor was Emperor was

Atahualpa. He had just gained Atahualpa. He had just gained control of the empire from his control of the empire from his brother and was traveling to brother and was traveling to Cuzco.Cuzco.

PizarroPizarro sent an invitation for sent an invitation for Atahualpa to attend a feast in his Atahualpa to attend a feast in his honor. Once there, a Spanish honor. Once there, a Spanish priest to tried to convert priest to tried to convert Atahualpa to Christianity. Atahualpa to Christianity. The priest was offended by the The priest was offended by the emperor’s response and told the emperor’s response and told the soldiers to attack.soldiers to attack.

9. Atahualpa kidnapped9. Atahualpa kidnapped PizarroPizarro attacked the thousands of attacked the thousands of

unarmed Incans and took unarmed Incans and took AtahualpaAtahualpa prisoner.prisoner.

10. Ransom10. Ransom Atahualpa promised to fill a room full of Atahualpa promised to fill a room full of

gold and another with silver for his gold and another with silver for his release.release.

The Spanish received 24 tons of silver The Spanish received 24 tons of silver and gold, but they never let Atahualpa and gold, but they never let Atahualpa go – he was go – he was murderedmurdered by the Spanish. by the Spanish.

11. End of the Incan Empire11. End of the Incan Empire After Atahualpa’s After Atahualpa’s

death, the death, the Spanish continued to Spanish continued to conquer the conquer the IncanIncan Empire. Empire.

The use of better The use of better weapons, armor, weapons, armor, horses, and disease horses, and disease again allowed the again allowed the Spanish to have an Spanish to have an easy victory.easy victory.

12. The end of the story12. The end of the story In In 15361536 the last battle the last battle

with the Incan warriors with the Incan warriors was fought. was fought.

PizarroPizarro founded the founded the city of Lima as the city of Lima as the capital of Peru and capital of Peru and claimed it all for Spain.claimed it all for Spain.

In 1541, Atahualpa’s In 1541, Atahualpa’s cousin killed cousin killed Pizarro.Pizarro.

13. Juan Ponce de Leon Conquered Puerto Rico 1508. Easter Sunday 1513 he

discovered Florida naming it La Florida after the “feast of flowers”

1562 Spain abandoned Florida and French settlers arrived.

Spain returned with Pedro Menendez de Aviles and drove out the French, founding St. Augustine in 1565. (oldest European-settled city in present-day USA)