Conquistadors and Pre-Columbian Civilizations By: Lauren Seigal

Standards 5.2 Identify the three major pre-Columbian civilizations that existed in Central and South America (Maya, Aztec, and Inca) and their locations. Describe their political structures, religious practices, and use of slaves. 5.4 Explain why the Aztec and Inca civilizations declined in the 16th century. A. the encounters between Cortez and Montezuma B. the encounters between Pizarro and the Incas C. the goals of the Spanish conquistadors D. the effects of European diseases, particularly smallpox, throughout the Western hemisphere

Aztecs Aztecs were polytheistic. Think polytheistic Poly = many Theo = god The Aztecs city was Tenochtitlan( a city built in the center of a lake), or what is today Mexico City. The Aztecs leader was Montezuma, their most powerful head of power. The Aztecs thought that sacrifice was very important. The Aztecs sacrificed more than 1,000 people a year. faculty.umf.maine.edu

Mayas The Mayas were located on the Mexican Coast in the Yucatan Peninsula. They did not have just one Capital City so it was difficult for the Spanish Conquistadors to take them over entirely. The region did not contain as much gold as all the other civilizations. As well as the Aztecs the Mayans were poly=many Theo =gods poly theistic. The Mayans had slaves who in some circumstances could gain their freedom back. faculty.umf.maine.edu

Incas The Incas were located in South America, in the Andes Mountains in Peru. Their Capital city was known as Cuzco. The Incas had no written down language, although they still had a spoken language. They also used knots on string for speaking. The Incas had an empire of 20 million people. As well as The Mayas and Aztecs the Incas were polytheistic. The Incas rarely sacrificed human people, they sacrificed animals. They sacrificed human children for their sacrifice, not adults. The Incas rarely sacrificed human people, they sacrificed animals. The animals they sacrificed were their llamas that they used for mostly everything. Only on special occasions the Incas sacrificed human. faculty.umf.maine.edu

Cortez Cortez was the conquistador to take over The Aztec civilization. The Aztecs thought that Cortez was Quetzacoatl their pale skinned god. Their prophecies had said that their god would come in 1513 the same year that Cortez captured the Aztec capital. Cortez was not a god although the Aztecs thought he was.

Pizzaro Pizzaro was an explorer and conquistador that was the man to take over the Incas civilization in Peru. The Incas were very accessible to the Spanish because in 1531 they were fighting in a civil war. (civil war when the same country is fighting with each other.) When Atahualpa was held for ransom with Pizzaro for gold and silver, the Incas gave gold as well as the silver. Yet they still killed Atahualpa.

Conclusion How did the Spanish explorers and conquistadors change Central and South America forever? The Spanish changed Central and South America forever because now most of Central and South America speak complete Spanish. Also another way is that now the maximum of the people believe in Christianity and no longer prey to their personal and native gods. Now all the Aztec, Mayan, and Inca celebrations and culture are now completely abandoned forever.