Empires in the Americas The Fall of Two Empires

Objectives Aztec Empire – basic beliefs, and influences Hernan Cortes – why is he coming to Latin America How did the Aztec’s view the Spanish What allowed the Spanish to overthrow a much bigger empire Who was Montezuma and how did the Aztec belief system lead to its demise

Pyramid of the Sun – birth place of the Earth Teotihuacan – location of Pyramid (Tea-oh-wa-kon) – city state in power before Spanish arrive Teotihuacan

Temple of Quetzalcoatl with magnificent heads of plumed serpents built into the walls were built for religious purposes. Birthplace of Quetzalcoatl

-From Pyramid of the Sun – 5 Gods, the 5 th God came down and built the Earth, he took on an Earthly Form and was named Quetzalcoatl “Plumed Serpent” A calendar established based on the movement of Venus. Created a Venus War Cult ” to go to war to appease “Quetzalcoatl” Blood Sacrifice of Warriors as part of war. If no blood is offered to the gods, the world will end Teotihuacan’s city state in BCE

Human Sacrifce was common to appease the Gods

Teotihuacan _city state disappears but Tenochtitlan (Capital of Aztecs is only 30 miles away) Toltecs 950 AD – City of Tula – where Quetzalcoatl re-took human form and was driven out of the city by religious priests. Prophecy said he would return from the East (gulf of Mexico ). The Toltec’s were also a empire located in the same geographical area as the Aztec’s The Aztecs take-up many of the belief’s of these two cultures…..

FALL OF THE AZTECS Montezuma Actual head-dress worn by Montezuma

Strangers on the Coast Montezuma Leader of the Aztec Lives in Tenochtitlan Fears Quetzalcoatl Aztec serpeant God expected to return to take his throne Pale skinned arriving from the East Hears of pale skinned people on the coast Thinks it Quetzalcoatl Invites them to Tenochtitlan

Hernan Cortes 1519 Cortes lands at Vera Cruz Greeted as friendly by local people’s including a group fromTenochtitlán Rival Spanish Army sent from Cuba to make sure Cortes finds gold. Cortes battles this army who have a slave with small pox…Cortes soldier contracts the disease…on the way back to Vera Cruz, the Aztec army overthrows Cortes, and contracts Smallpox…bringing it back to Tenochitlan….

Cortes the Conqueror At first Montezuma’s messengers present Cortes with gifts when he lands Cortes is not pleased “Is this all?” Captures messengers and fires cannons to scare them Cortes tells them that he has a disease which can only be cured by gold

Cortes Arrives in Mexico Cortes has heard rumors about cities of gold in North America Governor wants Cortes to claim land and look for gold in Mexico Cortes leaves for “gold” land to the West 11 ships, 800 men Horses, cannons, muskets and war dogs dressed in armor

Malintzin the Interpreter Native American princess She could speak Mayan, Spanish and Nahuatl The language of the Aztec She became interpreter for Cortes

Cortes Marches Inland Before marching Founds Veracruz (city) Claims Mexico for Spain Burns his ships Prevents his men from retreating Montezuma sends gold to have Cortes turn back Cortes is more curious about how much gold the Aztec really have

Cortes in Tenochtitlan Arrives on November 8, 1519 Montezuma gives Cortes the empire to command (thought he was Quetzalcoatl) Hands him the keys to the city Cortes fears he may be lead into a trap Cortes takes Montezuma hostage Spanish melt all the gold into bars Easier to transport 8 million dollars worth

A New Spanish Ally: Disease Aztec revolt against the Spanish Montezuma is killed by a rock thrown by his own people (probably) Drive Spanish out of Tenochtitlan Diseases brought by the Spanish killed many Aztec Smallpox and measles Aztec had never been exposed to diseases before

The Final Conquest Cortes returns 10 months later Thousands of Native Americans, Spanish soldiers ready to fight Aztec weapons no match for iron weapons and cannons Aztec surrender August 13, 1521 Gold and treasures now belong to Cortes Orders Mexico City to built where Tenochtitlan once was

Fall of the Incas Atahualpa

Pizzaro and the Inca Francisco Pizzaro attacks an Incan trading ship filled with silver and gold Trains Incan crew to be interpreters Plans his attack on the Incan Empire

A Broken Promise 1531, Pizzaro and 180 soldiers travel through South America He learns that the Incan leader, Atahualpa, just finished fighting a civil war and is tired Pizzaro takes Atahualpa captive and demands a ransom for his freedom Gathers $65 million – in gold Pizzaro kills Atahualpa

The Fall of an Empire Pizzaro sends soldiers to Cuzco, Incan capital, to capture it Pizzaro sets his capital up in Lima, Peru Takes 40 years to capture and defeat all of the Inca Great loyalty to their people