THE CONQUISTADORS Spanish Claims Empire
WHAT IS A CONQUISTADOR?
HERNAN CORTES AND THE SPANISH VS. MONTEZUMA AND THE AZTECS
HERNANDO CORTES: Born in Spain to a noble but poor family 1504: at 19, he sailed to the Americas to seek his fortune Became a wealthy landholder in Cuba, but wanted more “I have come to win gold not to plow the fields like a peasant.” page 64 Chance came when he was picked to lead the expedition to Mexico Described as strong-willed, shrewd, and cruel
Ruled the Aztec empire since 1502 According to Juan de Tovar, a Jesuit, “When he spoke, he drew the sympathy of others by his subtle phrases and…by his profound reasoning.” Lived in great luxury Received both officials and commoners into his palace Was treated almost as a god His subjects were not allowed to look at him Though brutal at times, he was said to be a just and effective ruler Page 64 MONTEZUMA
IN 1519, BOTH THEIR WORLDS WOULD CHANGE…
HERNAN CORTEZ AND THE AZTECS
ATAHUALPA AND THE INCAS VS FRANCISCO PIZARRO AND THE SPANISH
ATAHUALPA 13 th, and last, Incan Emperor Before his father’s untimely death, from smallpox, Atahualpa governed present-day Ecuador and his older half-brother governed Cuzco (the capital) and south After the death of their father Atahualpa became Incan Emperor by killing his half-brother during a civil war Left the empire internally split
Born in Spain in 1471 Was the 2 nd cousin to Hernan Cortes Not much is known about his early life, but after the discovery of the New World he got on a ship and landed in the West Indies He lived on Hispaniola (present-day Haiti and the Dominican Republic) He went on a few explorations and conquests After hearing about a land of gold, he led expeditions to Peru to find riches He was heard saying “Here lies Peru with its riches; Here, Panama and its poverty. Choose, each man, what best becomes a brave Castilian.“ – New World EncyclopediaPeru FRANCISCO PIZARRO
QBI QBI PIZARRO AND THE INCAS 2:58)
AZTEC CODEX