Spanish EmpireBased on Struggle & Survival

• Isabel Moctezuma

• Enrico Martinez

Isabel Moctezuma• Isabel’s first name was Tecuichpotzin, but was later

baptized with her Spain name after converting to Catholicism. She was know as Dona Isabel and was the daughter of the Aztec ruler Moctezuma II. Moctezuma was the Aztec ruler of Tenochtitlan, what is known today as Mexico City, and during his reign is when Spain conquered the Aztec Empire. Isabel was used to help contribute to the establishment of a new society, or help Spain and the Aztecs unite and influence people. Isabel married many Spanish men because many died. One of the fathers being Fernando Cortez, who never married Isabel but would always find her new husbands to supposedly help encourage the Aztec people that a union was good. Spain was able to split the lands, Isabel being the princess of the Aztecs, she received some territories. Before she died she hoped her lands were distributed evenly between her children and she hoped her people would eventually live free, and not seen as servants.

Enrico Martinez• Enrico Martinez was a printer from

Seville and traveled to Veracruz, Mexico, in 1589. He wanted to travel to the New World to become important and wealthy. He was able to attain a high reputation for a while as a scientist and public official. His main accomplishment was to come up with an idea to create a hydraulic operation , “desague”, which would drain the valley that flooded Mexico City. His plan did not work and ended up flooding the city more, and was later arrested and accused of closing the mouth of the tunnel. He defended himself by saying he didn’t get enough funds to build his tunnel. In the end he was taken off the task and given to someone else.