Chapter 1 & 2 Notes The Conquistadores, Incas, Aztecs and Explorers

Why did the Spanish leave their land to Explore others? Constant Warfare in Spain So the people without much land or money (who had great fighting skills) fled (War known as the Reconquista)

New Empires in Americas  Conquistadores oSpanish soldiers and explorers who led military expeditions in the Americas

Hernan Cortes (1519)  (What) Spanish – sent to Mexico by the governor of Cuba.  (Why) To look for the “lost expedition” as well as establish trade. To prevent soldiers from turning back, Cortes sank their ships and then headed to look for Montezuma (the man with all the riches)

*****Aztec Empire****  Moctezuma – Aztec King; Tenochtitlan – Capital  Malintzin/Malinche – An Indian woman who helped Cortes (gathered enemies of the Aztec)  Quetzalcoatl – Aztec God – Moctezema thought Cortes was a mythical God who, according to legend, would come back to rule  Spanish and Aztecs fought (Spanish advantage – had horses and guns) (Aztecs had many more fighters- about a few thousand to only 500 Spanish)

Result???  Cortes & other enemies defeat Aztecs!!!  When Cortes was challenged by another ruler (governor of Cuba) he went and defeated him on the eastern coast.  The Aztecs at this time rebelled and took back their city while Cortes was gone.  Cortes didn’t want to be defeated-although he had lost a lot of his soldiers in battle, he gathered thousands of Indian soldiers and fought a 3 week bloody battle with the Aztecs that destroyed Tenochtitlan!

Other Conquistadores!! Francisco Pizarro  When: 1531  Where: Peru/South America  Why: Looking for the “City of Gold” oFound Inca Indians –Territory (Central Chile to Columbia) –Ruler: Atahuallpa (tricked and killed by Pizarro)  Result: Conquered Inca Empire (1534)

Pizzaro was tricky- after taking the 26,000 pounds of silver as ransom- he killed Atahuallpa instead of freeing him!!!

Ponce de Leon (Spain)  When: , 1513, 1521  Where: Florida, Puerto Rico, Cuba  Why: Searching for the Fountain of Youth/Gold  Results oNever found the Fountain of Youth –Returned in 1521 and died from an arrow wound while fighting American Indians (went to Florida twice looking for the fountain).

Explorers Christopher Columbus  Where: Spain  When: 1492 (Bahamas, Portugal, San Salvadore, Hispaniola), , 1498,  Why: Looking for trade route to India  Results: Earth is round; New countries & continent; wealth; Dev. Of Western Hemisphere

Balboa Balboa (Spain)  When: 1513  Where: Panama, Central America, Caribbean  Why: Find gold/riches  Result: Found Pacific Ocean o*Gave Spanish explores a waterway to Asia for trade

Magellan Ferdinand Magellan (Spain)  Why: Find a sea route to Asia  Where: Philippines, India, Argentina, & Uruguay  Results: 1 st to Circumnavigate the world (Find an all water route to Asia)  Straits of Magellan

Magellan’s Travels

Cabot Henry Cabot (England)  When:  Where: Coast of N. America & New Foundland  Why: Land for England & water route to India  Result: Claims land in North America

Samuel De Champlain Champlain (France)  When:  Where: Explored North America oSt. Lawrence River oGreat Lakes  Result: French claims much of Canada (Quebec)

Hudson Henry Hudson (Dutch)  When & Where: o1609 New York o1610 Hudson Bay

Amerigo Vespucci  When: 1501  Where: South America  Why: Search for new land/Explore S. America  Result: Made many writings about the new world and captured the imaginations of the European people  *North and South America named in his honor (by a German mapmaker)

Other notables Juan Rodriguez- known for given the Spanish claim to the Pacific Coast of North America Hernando de Soto- went looking for gold in Florida- ended up in Arkansas –first European to cross the Mississippian river