1. The Spanish Experience in the Americas
The Big 3: The Aztec, the Inca, and the Maya

2. The Aztec Tenochtitlan Montecuhzoma Quetzalcoatl Cortez La Malinche
Tlaxcalan allies
Cuauhtémoc

3. Tenochititlan

5. Tenochititlan

6. Re-writing Aztec history
Tzompantili – skull rack

7. Cortez & Montecuhzoma

8. La Malinche

9. Quetzalcoatl

10. May 1512 How did 400 Spaniards defeat the Aztec Empire? Arms
-Aztec had stone age weapons, bows and arrows, cotton armor
-Spanish had metal armor, horses, cannons, steel swords, crossbows and war dogs trained on the peoples of the Antilles

11. Tactics
Aztec viewed battle as a sacred and honorable fight between equals.
Primarily hand-to-hand combat.
This idea of a “fair fight” meant nothing to the Spanish.
Aztec viewed the Spanish as cowards.
-Fire from a distance, use of the cannon (Aztec adaptation), terror tactics (excessive and unnecessary slaughter)

12. Native Allies -1000s of seasoned Tlaxcallan warriors
-Years of combat experience against the Aztec
-Even more war-like than the Aztec
-Primary source of Aztec sacrificial victims
-Bought themselves better treatment under the Spanish.

13. Old World Diseases Small pox, measles, whooping cough, etc…
Decimated Aztec population
Aztec reaction to illness, medical and religious
Our sources

14. 6 Spanish Patterns of Conquest
Exploit local conflicts (and complex local identities)
Exploit differences in knowledge
Focus on urban centers (idea of conquering “the capital”)
Aggressive use of religion (“One King, one law, one faith”)
Internal conflict among the Spanish
Capture of key areas (capitals) & dissatisfaction with $ led to new expeditions

15. The Inca

16. Machu Pichu and Cuzco

17. The Inca Pizarro 1530 Sapa Inca Huascar in Cuzco Atahualpa in Quito
Cajamarca
1532 ransom of 13,420 lbs gold & 26,000 lbs silver
Atahualpa’s baptism and death
Manca Inca
1536 Rebellion
1572 Tupac Amaru

18. Other Conquistadors

19. The Maya
The Big Hurdle
Much Older Civilization, already past its height
No central structure
More rural than urban
Jungle environment
Water
Cyclical Time
1545, last Mayan city fell in 1697

20. Cisterns and Cenotes

21. Mayan Knowledge

22. Stelae and Calendar Rounds

23. Mayan Codices

26. Tikal
Chichen Itza

30. “No Peace Beyond the Line”
Letters of Mark and Reprisal
Privateering – early joint-stock companies
“Golden Age” of Piracy
Opportunity
on the Margins

31. Roanoke Pirates don’t make a good colonizing force
1st English attempt, 1585/86
“Sir” Walter Raleigh
English defeat of the Spanish Armada 1588/89
1590 – entire colony abandoned

32. New France Fishing and Fur Green fishing vs. salt&dry
By in New France