The Conquest of Mexico

How was Cortés able to defeat the Aztec Empire?

Mesoamerica

Conquest of Mexico

In 1519, a Spanish expedition led by Hernan Cortés appeared off the shore of Mexico

Cortés traveled to Mexico in search of gold, silver, and treasures

Cortés was greeted by several Aztec messengers, who thought the Spanish Conquistadors were gods (Quetzalcoatl)

Cortés learned that the Aztec capital had many treasures

When Cortés arrived in the capital city of Tenochtitlan, he met the Aztec King, Motecuhzoma, who also believed Cortés to be a God

Motecuhzoma gave Cortés gold and promised him other treasures.

Later, Cortés men would kill many Aztecs during a religious festival

The Aztecs fought back but their king was captured and later killed

Using his Indigenous (Indian) translator, Doña Marina (La Malinche), Cortés found out that other Indian groups hated the Aztecs

Through La Malinche, Cortés convinced the other Indigenous (Indian) groups to join him

Cortés & other Indians made a final siege on the Aztec capital and left the city and Aztec Empire in ruins

The Broken SpearsMiguel Leon Portilla, a Mexican anthropologist, gathered accounts by the Aztecs, some of which were written shortly after the conquest. He translated from Nahuatl to Spanish

Important Vocabulary:Motecuhzoma (Nahuatl) or Montezuma (English) or Moctezuma (Spanish) = the king of the AztecsMexica = AztecsThe Captain = Cortés

Tlaxcalans = Another Indigenous group that hated the AztecsLa Malinche = Indigenous woman who was Cortés translator & mistressTenochtitlan = Aztec capital, Mexico City built on its ruins

Reasons Cortés beats Aztecs:

1) Disease Brought by Spaniards

2) Spanish Steel vs. Aztec Spears

3) Other Indian Groups assist Cortes

Broken Spears: Group Jobs#1 Reader: Will read the story out-loud to the group

#2 Summarizer: Will take notes during reading & write a one paragraph summary on the document

#3 Recorder: Will ask group questions on sheet listen to answers & fill out the doc. worksheet

#4 Reporter: Will keep track of time and will report the groups results to the whole class

All Members: Will participate in answering questions on worksheet – each person puts summary on their jigsaw

Note: If you only have three in your group Job #1 & #4 will be combined!