Hernan CortesHernan Cortes

By:By:

Matthew KargesMatthew Karges

EarlyEarly

Was born in Was born in Medellin, SpainMedellin, Spain

Was born in 1485Was born in 1485 Studied lawStudied law Wanted to get rich Wanted to get rich

in the New Worldin the New World

New WorldNew World When he was 19 he When he was 19 he

traveled to Santa traveled to Santa Domingo (Dominican Domingo (Dominican Republic)Republic)

Then he left after Then he left after seven years and took seven years and took part in the Spanish part in the Spanish Conquest of CubaConquest of Cuba

Became Mayor of Became Mayor of Santiago de Cuba yet Santiago de Cuba yet in 1518, he was eager in 1518, he was eager for more powerfor more power

More PowerMore Power

Talked Spanish Government of Cuba into Talked Spanish Government of Cuba into letting him take an expedition to Mexicoletting him take an expedition to Mexico

The year was 1519 and Mexico had not The year was 1519 and Mexico had not been discovered until 1518been discovered until 1518

AztecsAztecs Cortes arrived with 600 Cortes arrived with 600

men and a few horses, men and a few horses, and learned about the and learned about the Aztecs, who were in Aztecs, who were in charge of the landcharge of the land

Cortes traveled to their Cortes traveled to their main city Tenochtitlan main city Tenochtitlan to conquer themto conquer them

Along the way, he made Along the way, he made friends with the friends with the Tlaxcalans who were the Tlaxcalans who were the enemy of the Aztecsenemy of the Aztecs

TenochtitlanTenochtitlan Cortes reached Cortes reached

Tenochtitlan and met Tenochtitlan and met their leader Montezuma their leader Montezuma in November of 1519in November of 1519

Aztec people treated Aztec people treated Cortes well because Cortes well because they thought he was a they thought he was a godgod

Cortes captured Cortes captured Montezuma and Montezuma and ransomed him for a ransomed him for a large amount of gold large amount of gold and jewelsand jewels

RetaliationRetaliation Cortes was kicked out Cortes was kicked out

of the city along with of the city along with his menhis men

Cortes regrouped his Cortes regrouped his army and attackedarmy and attacked

Due to a major loss of Due to a major loss of people because of people because of sicknesses that Cortes sicknesses that Cortes brought and because brought and because Cortes had superior Cortes had superior weapons, the Aztecs weapons, the Aztecs were defeated in the were defeated in the summer of 1521summer of 1521

Mexico CityMexico City

Cortes destroyed Tenochtitlan and began to build Mexico Cortes destroyed Tenochtitlan and began to build Mexico City on top of its ruinsCity on top of its ruins

Cortes brought many Europeans with him and the city soon Cortes brought many Europeans with him and the city soon became one of the most important cities in North Americabecame one of the most important cities in North America

Because he had gained so much gold, he was made Because he had gained so much gold, he was made Governor of Mexico, or New SpainGovernor of Mexico, or New Spain

Yet he was not finished exploring Yet he was not finished exploring

Further ExplorationsFurther Explorations Cortes went to Honduras Cortes went to Honduras

with a group in 1524, yet with a group in 1524, yet was forced to go back to was forced to go back to Spain because of fear he Spain because of fear he was gaining to much powerwas gaining to much power

Persuaded the King of Persuaded the King of Spain into letting him Spain into letting him return to the Americasreturn to the Americas

Cortes’ continued Cortes’ continued explorations discovered the explorations discovered the Baja California Peninsula Baja California Peninsula and much of the Pacific and much of the Pacific Coast of MexicoCoast of Mexico

Returned to Spain in 1539 Returned to Spain in 1539 and died in Seville in 1547and died in Seville in 1547