Hernan Cortes By: Matthew Karges

Early Was born in Medellin, Spain Was born in Medellin, Spain Was born in 1485 Was born in 1485 Studied law Studied law Wanted to get rich in the New World Wanted to get rich in the New World

New World When he was 19 he traveled to Santa Domingo (Dominican Republic) When he was 19 he traveled to Santa Domingo (Dominican Republic) Then he left after seven years and took part in the Spanish Conquest of Cuba Then he left after seven years and took part in the Spanish Conquest of Cuba Became Mayor of Santiago de Cuba yet in 1518, he was eager for more power Became Mayor of Santiago de Cuba yet in 1518, he was eager for more power

More Power Talked Spanish Government of Cuba into letting him take an expedition to Mexico Talked Spanish Government of Cuba into letting him take an expedition to Mexico The year was 1519 and Mexico had not been discovered until 1518 The year was 1519 and Mexico had not been discovered until 1518

Aztecs Cortes arrived with 600 men and a few horses, and learned about the Aztecs, who were in charge of the land Cortes arrived with 600 men and a few horses, and learned about the Aztecs, who were in charge of the land Cortes traveled to their main city Tenochtitlan to conquer them Cortes traveled to their main city Tenochtitlan to conquer them Along the way, he made friends with the Tlaxcalans who were the enemy of the Aztecs Along the way, he made friends with the Tlaxcalans who were the enemy of the Aztecs

Tenochtitlan Cortes reached Tenochtitlan and met their leader Montezuma in November of 1519 Cortes reached Tenochtitlan and met their leader Montezuma in November of 1519 Aztec people treated Cortes well because they thought he was a god Aztec people treated Cortes well because they thought he was a god Cortes captured Montezuma and ransomed him for a large amount of gold and jewels Cortes captured Montezuma and ransomed him for a large amount of gold and jewels

Retaliation Cortes was kicked out of the city along with his men Cortes was kicked out of the city along with his men Cortes regrouped his army and attacked Cortes regrouped his army and attacked Due to a major loss of people because of sicknesses that Cortes brought and because Cortes had superior weapons, the Aztecs were defeated in the summer of 1521 Due to a major loss of people because of sicknesses that Cortes brought and because Cortes had superior weapons, the Aztecs were defeated in the summer of 1521

Mexico City Cortes destroyed Tenochtitlan and began to build Mexico City on top of its ruins Cortes destroyed Tenochtitlan and began to build Mexico City on top of its ruins Cortes brought many Europeans with him and the city soon became one of the most important cities in North America Cortes brought many Europeans with him and the city soon became one of the most important cities in North America Because he had gained so much gold, he was made Governor of Mexico, or New Spain Because he had gained so much gold, he was made Governor of Mexico, or New Spain Yet he was not finished exploring Yet he was not finished exploring

Further Explorations Cortes went to Honduras with a group in 1524, yet was forced to go back to Spain because of fear he was gaining to much power Cortes went to Honduras with a group in 1524, yet was forced to go back to Spain because of fear he was gaining to much power Persuaded the King of Spain into letting him return to the Americas Persuaded the King of Spain into letting him return to the Americas Cortes’ continued explorations discovered the Baja California Peninsula and much of the Pacific Coast of Mexico Cortes’ continued explorations discovered the Baja California Peninsula and much of the Pacific Coast of Mexico Returned to Spain in 1539 and died in Seville in 1547 Returned to Spain in 1539 and died in Seville in 1547