1. Lesson 15 Hernan Cortes’ defeat of the Aztecs
Aim: To understand the events leading up to the capture of Tenochtitlán and the Aztec surrender in

2. STARTING OFF The Aztec way of life
Watch the clip and identify 6 features of the Aztec’s way of life before Spanish conquest.

3. BALBOA – ZERO TO HERO Questions from p 53 – 57:
Read Pearson pg
Extension reading: Laminate handout –
Questions from p 53 – 57:
What were the flower wars?
Who were the Tlaxcalans?
Why did Montezuma fear an alliance between the Tlaxcalans and Cortes?
What did Cortes do at Cholula?
What was Tenochtitlan?
How did Cortes get into Tenochtitlan?
What did the Spaniards do to Montezuma?
Why did Cortes leave Tenochtitlan?
Why did the Aztecs start to kill the Spaniards who remained in Tenochtitlan under Alvarado?
What was the Night of Tears?
How did the Spaniards manage to finally capture the city of Tenochtitlan?
10 mins

4. Montezuma and the Aztec surrender 1519-1521
Hernán Cortés and the Fall of the Aztecs laminated handout / Pearson pg55-57
Complete the timeline detailing the key events that led to the Aztec surrender in 1521.
Colour code events on the timeline according to:
Cortes’s skill
Montezuma’s mistakes
Luck
Alliances with natives

5. Plenary
Identify as many consequences of Balboa’s conquest of Panama as you can with your neighbour.

6. Homework
Question 1: Explain two consequences of Balboa’s conquest of Panama.(4 marks)
[POINT] One consequence of… {WFTQ} is…
[EVIDENCE] Evidence to support this is…
[EXPLAIN] This meant that… {insert precise own knowledge}
Therefore…
[POINT] Another consequence of… {WFTQ} is…

7. Homework Complete the timeline of events fully
The Siege of Tenochtitlán Explained - the A3 worksheet provides a more detailed analysis of the Siege of Tenochtitlán and the eventual fall of the Aztecs. Use the information from the worksheet to complete the table.
Strategy 1 Cut the Aztecs off from their allies
Strategy 2 Put Pressure on the causeways
Strategy 3 Dominate Lake Texcoco
Reasons
Methods

9. Montezuma tracks Cortes
Timeline showing the main events leading to the defeat of Tenochtitlán and the Aztec surrender, 1521
Montezuma tracks Cortes
Why did Montezuma track the Conquistadors?
Massacre at Cholula
Who was killed at Cholula?
What did this show the Aztecs?
Montezuma captured
Alvarado’s mistake
Siege of Tenochtitlan
Cortes allies with the Tlaxcalans
Who were the Tlaxcalans?
Why did Cortes ally with them?
Cortes arrives at Tenochtitlan
Cortes leaves Tenochtitlan
Night of Tears
Defeat of the Aztecs