Spain in MexicoSpain in Mexico

After the fiasco of Magellan Spain decides to focus on the Americas

Spanish base in Cuba Hear tell of ancient

powerful civilization The Aztec

After the fiasco of Magellan Spain decides to focus on the Americas

Spanish base in Cuba Hear tell of ancient

powerful civilization The Aztec

Aztec CivilizationAztec Civilization

Most advanced of Native American civilizations

Warriors, engineers, poets, astronomers, etc.

Most advanced of Native American civilizations

Warriors, engineers, poets, astronomers, etc.

Aztec Civilization (cont.)

Aztec Civilization (cont.)

Came from north looking for sign of eagle holding a serpent

Built city in middle of Lake Texcoco

Tenochtitlan

Came from north looking for sign of eagle holding a serpent

Built city in middle of Lake Texcoco

Tenochtitlan

TenochtitlanTenochtitlan

TenochtitlanTenochtitlan

City divided into four zones

Each zone subdivided into districts

Each district had multiple streets

City divided into four zones

Each zone subdivided into districts

Each district had multiple streets

Aztec Civilization (cont.)

Aztec Civilization (cont.)

City in the middle of a lake is pretty safe

Therefore the Aztecs can subjugate the surrounding people at will

Rule by installing friendly rulers and through marriages

City in the middle of a lake is pretty safe

Therefore the Aztecs can subjugate the surrounding people at will

Rule by installing friendly rulers and through marriages

Aztec SacrificeAztec Sacrifice

Human sacrifice a big deal to appease their gods

Done by other societies but not his hardcore

Sun God requires a sacrifice everyday

Human sacrifice a big deal to appease their gods

Done by other societies but not his hardcore

Sun God requires a sacrifice everyday

Aztec Sacrifice (cont.)

Aztec Sacrifice (cont.)

Multiple other gods require sacrifices as well

Legend of the Five Suns

Went to war constantly solely to capture people to sacrifice

Multiple other gods require sacrifices as well

Legend of the Five Suns

Went to war constantly solely to capture people to sacrifice

Spain in Mexico (cont.)

Spain in Mexico (cont.)

Hernan Cortes (1485-1547)

Spanish conquistador (conqueror)

Leaves from Cuba in 1519 with eleven ships, 500 men, thirteen horses, and a few cannons

Hernan Cortes (1485-1547)

Spanish conquistador (conqueror)

Leaves from Cuba in 1519 with eleven ships, 500 men, thirteen horses, and a few cannons

Spain in Mexico (cont.)

Spain in Mexico (cont.)

Cortes lands near Veracruz, Mexico

Aztecs report back “houses moving on water” and “white men riding upon deer”

Montezuma II

Cortes lands near Veracruz, Mexico

Aztecs report back “houses moving on water” and “white men riding upon deer”

Montezuma II

Cortes burns his own ships

Cortes burns his own ships

Spain in Mexico (cont.)

Spain in Mexico (cont.)

Cortes vastly outnumbered

However he has guns, horses, and cannons

La Malinche Native woman who served as guide translator, and later lover

Name is a curse word in Mexico today

Cortes vastly outnumbered

However he has guns, horses, and cannons

La Malinche Native woman who served as guide translator, and later lover

Name is a curse word in Mexico today

Spain in Mexico (cont.)

Spain in Mexico (cont.)

The Legend of Quetzalcoatl

The Feathered Serpent Only Aztec god who

cared for people Left over the ocean Would return the same

way and in the year that Cortes showed up

The Legend of Quetzalcoatl

The Feathered Serpent Only Aztec god who

cared for people Left over the ocean Would return the same

way and in the year that Cortes showed up

Spain in Mexico (cont.)

Spain in Mexico (cont.)

If Montezuma II had attacked early he would have defeated Cortes but the legend keeps him from doing so

Cortes moves inland and gathers allies

If Montezuma II had attacked early he would have defeated Cortes but the legend keeps him from doing so

Cortes moves inland and gathers allies

Spain in Mexico (cont.)

Spain in Mexico (cont.)

Cortes reaches Tenochtitlan with thousands of allies

Montezuma II (still confused) invites the Spanish in sans allies

Spanish are amazed by Tenochtitlan

Cortes reaches Tenochtitlan with thousands of allies

Montezuma II (still confused) invites the Spanish in sans allies

Spanish are amazed by Tenochtitlan

Spain in Mexico (cont.)

Spain in Mexico (cont.)

Both sides experience culture shock

Cortes is welcomed by Montezuma II and taken hostage

Aztecs run at sight of cannon but soon come back

Both sides experience culture shock

Cortes is welcomed by Montezuma II and taken hostage

Aztecs run at sight of cannon but soon come back

Spain in Mexico (cont.)

Spain in Mexico (cont.)

No one is for sure what happens next

Cortes ordered Montezuma II to calm his people down

Spanish say that Aztecs killed their own emperor by throwing rocks

Aztecs say the Spanish strangled Montezuma II

No one is for sure what happens next

Cortes ordered Montezuma II to calm his people down

Spanish say that Aztecs killed their own emperor by throwing rocks

Aztecs say the Spanish strangled Montezuma II

Spain in Mexico (cont.)

Spain in Mexico (cont.)

Either way the outcome is war

Cortes and allies eventually win (after years of warfare)

Either way the outcome is war

Cortes and allies eventually win (after years of warfare)