Cortes, the Conquistador Born in Medellin, Spain Heard stories about Columbus and the “New World” Felt he had to see the Caribbean Affected his worldview of the area and people. Read pg. 216

Cortes, the Conquistador Arrived in Cuba in 1510 and conquered the area for Spain Stayed for 8 years before setting off to conquer the Aztecs Purposely disobeyed his superior (Velazquez) and gathered and army of Spanish, Indigenous slaves and horses Read pg.217,

An Unequal Fight Spanish had superior weapons and technology

Spanish Strategy Read 229 – Spanish Strategy Here is the Conquistador’s formula for conquering a new land: An expedition would set out from a recent colony After landing in a new region, the Spanish would try to meet peacefully with the first groups of Indigenous people they encountered. Their aim was to discover which group in the area was the most powerful

Spanish Strategy The Spanish would invite the leader and exchange gifts. Then the Spanish would seize the leader and threaten to kill him unless his followers obeyed their orders If they did have to fight, the Spanish would try to do so on open ground. Their horses, armour, and weapons gave them a huge advantage.

Spanish Strategy The leader of the expedition would remain as governor of the new colony and his second-in-command would organize the next expedition. The Indigenous peoples would be forced into slavery.

The Role of Disease Small pox epidemic broke out in Tenochtitlan By the time the disease had run its course, 95% of the Aztecs were dead Today we are inoculated for small pox Read 227 and answer questions on Zoom In

Invasion Cortez marched toward Tenochtitlan Read “Invasion” pg. 229 Invasion Cortez marched toward Tenochtitlan Lands on the shores of Mexico Befriended Tabasco people to help him defeat the Aztecs

Invasion Read “Using an Intermediary” pg. 229 Why two faces? One of the slaves of the Tabasco was a young women who helped Cortes translate. Named Malinche Her task was to act as an intermediary between Moctezuma and Cortez She could speak both Mayan and Nahuatl Converted to Christianity and was renamed Dona Marina Became Cortez’s advisor, spy and wife Was very important to Cortez’s conquest of the Aztecs Why two faces?

Invasion Read pg. 231 “Aztec Strategy” Moctezuma hears of the invaders and is now faced with a dilemma. Attack or wait.

March to Tenochtitlan Cortez meets with the Totonacs to find some allies After making allies, Cortez meets the Tlaxcala. The meeting was not as friendly as with the Totonacs. Cortez battles the Tlaxcalans Peace is made

The Battle for Tenochtitlan Cortez marches toward Tenochtitlan and sees the great city for the first time Cortez meets with Moctezuma After the meeting, Cortez and his soldiers are welcomed to stay They become nervous about the Aztecs actions and take Moctezuma prisoner.

The Battle for Tenochtitlan With Moctezuma under arrest, Cortez begins to take power of Tenochtitlan

The Battle for Tenochtitlan Cortez hears that Velazquez sailed to the shores of Mexico to arrest Cortez for treason

Battle for Tenochtitlan Pedro De Alvarado and His Soldiers Massacring the Aztecs Cortez leaves Tenochtitlan to battle Velazquez and then convinces Velazquez’s army to join him. Meanwhile back in Tenochtitlan, Pedro de Alvarado, second in-command tries to rule Tenochtitlan

Battle for Tenochtitlan When Cortez arrives back in Tenochtitlan the Aztecs are rebelling against the Spaniards and forces Cortez to retreat. The massacre of the Spaniards is called today as “La Noche Triste”

Battle for Tenochtitlan Six months later, Cortez returns to retake Tenochtitlan. But smallpox has arrived before Cortez did and began killing the Aztecs for him

Mexico Cortez conquers the Aztecs and returns to Spain a hero and a very wealthy man