Aztecs Fall of Tenochtitlan

1450 They had heavy rains for a period of 5 years. This caused massive flooding They had heavy rains for a period of 5 years. This caused massive flooding.

This ruined the land so that they had to deal with famine. Famine: an acute (serious) shortage of food.

They tried to please the gods through massive offerings of human hearts.

They believed they had learned their lesson from the years of Famine. Lesson Learned: Don’t ever displease the gods again!

The people watching the sacrifice would also practice bloodletting.

There were political benefits to this sacrificial system. Invite the leaders of the tributary tribes to see what would happen to them if they rebelled! Europeans killed the warriors in battle. Aztecs killed the warriors after the battle.

There is a story of 20,000 victims being sacrificed in 4 days. Is that possible? 1487 The dedication of the Temple Mayor

The Spanish are coming! The Spanish are coming! Cortez and The Route he took:

The entire world will change forever after the Spanish find the Americas. “New World” Old World The Americas Europe, Asia and Africa

The Spanish will conquer the Philippines about the same time they conquer the Aztecs. They call Mexico “New Spain”.

Resources that were transported across the Atlantic Ocean after the Americas were “found”. Columbian Exchange Chicken Pox influenza (flu) measles Tea scarlet fever Rice smallpox wheat cats Chickens Cows goats horses Rabbits Pigs Sheep Pigeons Old World Chicken Pox influenza (flu) measles Tea scarlet fever Rice smallpox wheat cats Chickens Cows goats horses Rabbits Pigs Sheep Pigeons Old World chocolate Corn Potatoes Turkey Tomatoes Chili pepper Peanuts Vanilla Squash GOLD Pumpkin SILVER Sweet Potato Syphilis Tobacco rubber New World chocolate Corn Potatoes Turkey Tomatoes Chili pepper Peanuts Vanilla Squash GOLD Pumpkin SILVER Sweet Potato Syphilis Tobacco rubber New World

STD Syphilis It takes years to die from the bacteria. It does damage the brain and heart. STD Syphilis It takes years to die from the bacteria. It does damage the brain and heart. It takes 7-10 days from the time one is exposed to smallpox until the virus starts to appear.

Estimated decline of the Native Population of Mexico due to disease: 24 Million 20 Million 16 Million 12 Million 8 Million 4 Million 1 Million

Maya Incas Aztecs <  1000 I 600 I I 600 I 1000 I 1200 I 1600 I 2000 BCE CE<<

Cortez arrives-->The siege of Tenochtitlan (It will take 2 years) Montezuma II Cortez

1.When Cortes, the Spanish conquistador arrived in 1519 with his fleet of galleons(ships), the Aztecs thought that he was the god Quetzalcoatl returning. It was predicted that he would arrive in 1519.

It took 3 months for Cortez to reach Tenochtitlan. 2. Montezuma then invited Montezuma and his men in as guests.

3. Cortez captures Montezuma and held him hostage in the palace for 6 months.

Cortez was in trouble for disobeying the Viceroy. ( He is kind of like a governor of the area.) 5. He left Tenochtitlan. 6. His men attacked the priests for doing their sacrifices. 7. They had to get out of there quick! Some died because they Were trying to take the Heavy gold with them.

8.There were many battles where the Spanish were defeated. During that time one man entered Tenochtitlan with smallpox!

9.Finally, Cortez came back with 500 men and an army full of warriors that were angry about paying tribute.

10.They circled Tenochtitlan and cut off their supply of water and food for 3 months(a siege).

11.The Aztecs were weakened from starvation and disease. When they did finally fight, the Spanish and the tributary warriors easily won.

FYI: The Aztecs had a calendar that was modeled after the Mayan Calendar (365 days).

>After a sacrifice the corpses would then be carefully dis-membered. >Different body parts were handed out to the nobles to be eaten.