What we will learn:  How might differences in worldview contribute to the dominance of one culture over another?  What aspects of technology, religion, and culture might affect the meeting between the Aztecs and the Spanish?  How does a leader’s worldview affect his/her choices and decisions?  In what ways did technology and disease contribute to the Spanish dominance over the Aztecs?  How did the worldviews of the Spanish and Aztecs influence the strategies they used against one another?

Comparing Worldviews Aztecs Spanish

Chapter 10 includes: ■ A chain of events causing massive upheaval was about to hit the mighty Aztec world. ■ Change would be rapid and violent. ■ Contact between two peoples brought devastation to the Aztecs. ■ the-savaging-of-the-new-world.html the-savaging-of-the-new-world.html

Hernan Cortes ► Born in Spain. ► Believed the Inquisition had produced Spanish unity and stability.  Spain was a better place to live. ► Idolized Columbus  Moved to the colonies when he was 19.  Desire for gold and fortune.

Conquistador ► means “conqueror” ► term the Spanish leaders in the Americas used to describe themselves

Did You Know?!  Cortes’s desire for gold was the inspiration behind the movie Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl. A group of pirates are cursed after stealing Aztec gold from Cortes.

Cortes in the Caribbean Given farm land in present-day Dominican. Wanted gold instead. Asked to join a mission to conquer Cuba  Did so with only 300 men.

The Conquistadors Formula 1. An expedition would set out from Spain or a recent colony (ex. Hispaniola).

The Conquistadors Formula 2. After landing in a new region, the Spanish would try to meet peacefully with the first group they encountered. The aim was to determine which group was the most powerful.

The Conquistadors Formula 3. The Spanish would invite the leader of the most powerful group to meet and exchange gifts. They would seize the leader and threaten to kill him unless his people obeyed Spanish orders.

The Conquistadors Formula 4. If they had to fight, the Spanish would do out in the open. Their horses, armour and weapons gave them a huge advantage.

The Conquistadors Formula 5. The leader of the expedition would remain as governor of the new colony, and his second-in- command would organize the next mission. The Indigenous people would be forced into slavery.

Richest Man Ever to Cross the Sea  Cortes remained in Cuba for 8 years.  Second in command to Governor Velazquez  Grew restless again (like in Spain)  Curious about the Yucatan Peninsula  Heard reports of another civilization (stronger, advanced, and wealthier)

Richest Man Ever to Cross the Sea  Velazquez financed the new mission  Scoured Cuba for soldiers and got loans to buy ships

Richest Man Ever to Cross the Sea  Velazquez tried to stop the expedition  Worried Cortes would get all the glory for discoveries and take authority over new lands  Cortes ignored Velazquez

Cortes Arrives in Mexico  Landed on coast of Mexico, established La Villa Rica de la Veracruz  Independent government established  Cortes now responsible to King Carlos I instead of Velazquez  Sent one ship back to Spain with treasure and sank other ten

An Unequal Fight Aztec Weapon Spanish Weapon War Club ► Cut like knife but not through armor ► Heavy, needed two hands Sword ► Double edged, pointy, sharp ► Meter long, one handed.

An Unequal Fight Aztec Weapon Spanish Weapon Wooden Spear ► Sharp wood heated by fire ► Aimed for eyes and neck (close combat) Halberd ► Over 2 meters with spear, hook, and axe

An Unequal Fight Aztec Weapon Spanish Weapon Atlatl (Spear thrower) ► Stronger than using arm ► Also had bows, arrows, and slings Crossbow ► Shoot wooden arrows that penetrated armor

Unknown Weapons  Muskets completely took Aztecs by surprise  Long rifle-like guns fired from shoulders  Brought cannons as well  Aztecs thought these weapons were thunder and lightning when they went off  Moctezuma sent ambassadors to find out what Spanish wanted  Cortes ordered men to fire weapons before the ambassadors left

The Horse  Third military advantage was the horse  Aztecs had never seen horses before  Size, power, and speed fascinated Aztecs  Spanish were trained riders; could hold reins with one hand and weapon in another  Aztecs on foot couldn’t compete

The Role of Disease  Spanish brought diseases from Europe  They had built up immunity and carried it through germs, clothing, animals, etc.  Aztecs had no immunity  Smallpox epidemic broke out  Killed large numbers of Aztecs, weakened ability to fight back

Invasion  Both Spanish and Aztecs were powerful, and used to winning battles  Aztecs collected tributes, which earned them enemies  Cortes marched inland, and befriended or conquered people along the way

Invasion: Using an Intermediary  Cortes defeated Tabascan people, given gifts of food, clothing, gold, and slaves  Young woman named Malinche given as slave  Gave Cortes what he needed to overcome Aztec empire

Using an Intermediary  Link between Cortes and Moctezuma  Malinche spoke both Mayan and Nahuatl, learned Spanish  Became Cortes’ advisor and spy

March to Tenochtitlan  Cortes adapted strategy along route  Totonacs disliked paying tribute, Cortes protected them in exchange for warriors  Tlaxcalans fought Spanish, Spanish fended off and made peace. Got soldiers from them  Choluans (loyal to Aztecs), conspired to attack Spanish. Spanish conquered Choluans

March to Tenochtitlan

Aztec Strategy  Moctezuma chose to sit back and wait to see what the Spanish would do, then make a decision  Waited until the Spanish got closer and closer

Battle for Tenochtitlan  Cortes and soldiers taken to live in a palace, were shown glories of the Aztec city  Saw market, gold and treasures  The wealth and the desire to lead caused Cortes to attack

Battle for Tenochtitlan  Spanish placed Moctezuma under house arrest  Looted gold and melted it down, forced Moctezuma to make himself subject of Spanish rule  But Spanish troops arrived from the coast by Governor Velazquez to arrest Cortes  Cortes left Tenochtitlan to deal with this, left Pedro de Alvarado in charge  He let the Aztecs hold a festival, but had troops massacre all the dancers

Battle for Tenochtitlan  Cortes defeated Velazquez and returned to Tenochtitlan  It was in an uproar, so Cortes forced Moctezuma to speak to his people to calm them down  They threw stones at him, and later Moctezuma died  Aztecs attacked Spanish and allies, killed some, and drove the rest out

Battle for Tenochtitlan  Cortes returned and attacked with a stronger force 6 months later  Smallpox epidemic killed 25% of Aztec population  Cut aqueducts, after a siege of 80 days, Aztecs were defeated  City was torn down, 60,000 Aztecs survived in the city  Cortes lay the foundations for a new Spanish colony

The Last Days of the Aztecs