The Conquest of Mexico How was Cortés able to defeat the Aztec Empire?

Mesoamerica

Conquest of Mexico In 1519, a Spanish expedition led by Hernan Cortés appeared off the shore of Mexico Cortés traveled to Mexico in search of gold, silver, and treasures Cortés was greeted by several Aztec messengers, who thought the Spanish Conquistadors were gods (Quetzalcoatl) Cortés learned that the Aztec capital had many treasures When Cortés arrived in the capital city of Tenochtitlan, he met the Aztec King, Motecuhzoma, who also believed Cortés to be a God Motecuhzoma gave Cortés gold and promised him other treasures. Later, Cortés men would kill many Aztecs during a religious festival The Aztecs fought back but their king was captured and later killed Using his Indigenous (Indian) translator, Doña Marina (La Malinche), Cortés found out that other Indian groups hated the Aztecs Through La Malinche, Cortés convinced the other Indigenous (Indian) groups to join him Cortés & other Indians made a final siege on the Aztec capital and left the city and Aztec Empire in ruins

The Broken Spears Miguel Leon­Portilla, a Mexican anthropologist, gathered accounts by the Aztecs, some of which were written shortly after the conquest. He translated from Nahuatl to Spanish Important Vocabulary: Motecuhzoma (Nahuatl) or Montezuma (English) or Moctezuma (Spanish) = the king of the Aztecs Mexica = Aztecs The Captain = Cortés Tlaxcalans = Another Indigenous group that hated the Aztecs La Malinche = Indigenous woman who was Cortés translator & mistress Tenochtitlan = Aztec capital, Mexico City built on its ruins Reasons Cortés beats Aztecs: 1)Disease Brought by Spaniards 2)Spanish Steel vs. Aztec Spears 3)Other Indian Groups assist Cortes

Broken Spears: Group Jobs #1 Reader: Will read the story out-loud to the group #2 Summarizer: Will take notes during reading & write a one paragraph summary on the document #3 Recorder: Will ask group questions on sheet listen to answers & fill out the doc. worksheet #4 Reporter: Will keep track of time and will report the groups results to the whole class All Members: Will participate in answering questions on worksheet – each person puts summary on their jigsaw Note: If you only have three in your group Job #1 & #4 will be combined!