1. Conquistadors {Cortez and Pizarro} By: Ellie Murray

2. Standards 5.2 Identify the three major pre-columbian civilizations that existed in central and South America (Maya, Aztec, and Inca) and their locations. Describe their political structures, religious practices, and use of slaves. 5.4 Explain why the Aztec and Inca civilizations declined in the 16th century. A. the encounters between Cortez and Montezuma. B. the encounters between Pizarro and the Incas. C. the goals of the Spanish conquistadors. D. the effects of European diseases, particularly smallpox, throughout the Western hemisphere.

3. Aztecs Central Mexico- Valley of Mexico. Capital- Tenochtitlan { today in Mexico City.} Polytheistic- believed in many gods like rain gods, sun gods, and crop gods and worship a god called Quetzacoatl. Controlled many other tribes, forced them to give them money. Used other tribes as slaves and human sacrifice. Aztecs brought down {smallpox} a.k.a chicken pox johntoddjr.com

4. Mayas On the Mexican coastline a.k.a Yucatan peninsula. More than one major city- was much harder for conquistadors to overthrow. Did not contain as much gold as they wanted more. Belief in many gods {polytheistic}. Had slaves, who could sometimes gain there beliefs. mayancountdown.net

5. Incas South America, Andes Mts., Peru etc. Capital: Cuzco. Polytheistic: Belief in many gods. No written language, but they spoke words. Language { Used knots as message.} Practiced animal sacrifices, and on special. Occasions human sacrifice for the children. Inca Civilization was a big thing for all the people almost 20 million people participated. markamusic.com

6. Cortez Traveled with 500 men and 16 horses to conquer Aztec people in there capital of Tenochtitlan in 1519. Tenochtitlan is an unusual city because it was built in the middle of lake on a series of islands. Cortez took Montezuma hostage, and Montezuma was killed in the fight that followed. The Spanish destroyed Tenochtitlan and created a new city, Mexico city that still exists today!

7. Pizarro Traveled with 180 other men and 27 horses into Peru to conquer the Inca civilization. Incas taken over by the Pizarro and the Spanish in 1531 because they were fighting a civil war {when two or more groups in one country are fighting with each other.} Pizarro demanded that a room be filled with gold and silver and the Athualpa would be. Pizarro tricked Incas and after they delivered the ransom, he did not return to Athualpa and the Incan emperor was eventually killed!

8. The Legacy of the Conquistadors How did the Spanish explorers and conquistadors change Central and South America forever? (Where do we see the lasting effect of these conquistadors even in 2011?) Answer: Today in current time Central South America talks Spanish. Today in current time the majority of peoples in central and South America are Christian, and no longer worship their native gods. A lot of Aztec, Inca, and Maya culture and traditions have disappeared forever.

9. The End!!!!!!