Dr. Afxendiou Sachem North High School EUROPEAN EXPLORATION Dr. Afxendiou Sachem North High School
CAUSES – THE 3 Gs ECONOMIC Gold SOCIAL Glory RELIGIOUS God Wealth, it could be in gold, silver or in land SOCIAL Glory Adventurers went to the Americas looking to make a fortune and make a name for themselves RELIGIOUS God to spread Christianity to the natives.
THE CONQUISTADORS The first explorer – Christopher Columbus – 1492 Followed by Conquistadors – adventurers in search of fortunes and land and wishing to spread their religion PIP CAM (PIP CAMe to conquer) Pizarro – Incas – Peru Cortes – Aztecs - Mexico
Hernan Cortes Mexico 1519 His aims: Factors leading to his victory gain more colonies for Spain Find gold and silver Factors leading to his victory Moctezuma’s hesitation support of various native groups who hated Aztecs Malinche
Hernan Cortes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fonQEj8sKcg
Francisco Pizarro Peru 1532 Led 200 men Inca weak due to civil war Inca emperor came to meet the Spaniards but was caught in an ambush – ransom paid but he was strangled anyway – demoralized Incas
Francisco Pizarro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKeB82retLs
REASONS FOR SPANISH VICTORY Superior military technology weapons – muskets, cannons Horses – natives had never seen such an animal and it frightened them Spanish armor and helmets protected soldiers from arrows and spears Division among the native groups – Aztecs and Incas were hated by rival groups they had defeated. Spanish made the enemies their allies Disease - measles, mumps, smallpox, typhus Destruction of Tenochtitlan signaled the end of the world – the Aztecs believed they would die anyway