Chapter 4: European Empires in the Americas Section 1 The Fall of Two Empires

Cortes Arrives in Mexico Cortes has heard rumors about cities of gold (Cibola) in North America Governor wants Cortes to claim land and look for gold in Mexico Later he changes his mind Cortes disobeys and goes anyway 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 Claims Mexico for Spain Burns his ships Prevents his men from retreating

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 Hears of pale skinned people on the coast Thinks it Quetzalcoatl

Cortes the Conqueror Spanish conquistador (conqueror) 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 in Tenochtitlan Arrives on November 8, 1519 Montezuma gives Cortes the empire to command 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 escape 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 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

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 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