1. Cortes, the Conquistador
Born in Medellin, Spain
Heard stories about Columbus and the “New World”
Felt he had to see the Caribbean
Affected his worldview of the area and people.
Read pg. 216

2. Cortes, the Conquistador
Arrived in Cuba in 1510 and conquered the area for Spain
Stayed for 8 years before setting off to conquer the Aztecs
Purposely disobeyed his superior (Velazquez) and gathered and army of Spanish, Indigenous slaves and horses
Read pg.217,

3. An Unequal Fight
Spanish had superior weapons and technology

4. Spanish Strategy
Read 229 – Spanish Strategy
Here is the Conquistador’s formula for conquering a new land:
An expedition would set out from a recent colony
After landing in a new region, the Spanish would try to meet peacefully with the first groups of Indigenous people they encountered. Their aim was to discover which group in the area was the most powerful

5. Spanish Strategy
The Spanish would invite the leader and exchange gifts. Then the Spanish would seize the leader and threaten to kill him unless his followers obeyed their orders
If they did have to fight, the Spanish would try to do so on open ground. Their horses, armour, and weapons gave them a huge advantage.

6. Spanish Strategy
The leader of the expedition would remain as governor of the new colony and his second-in-command would organize the next expedition. The Indigenous peoples would be forced into slavery.

7. The Role of Disease Small pox epidemic broke out in Tenochtitlan
By the time the disease had run its course, 95% of the Aztecs were dead
Today we are inoculated for small pox
Read 227 and answer questions on Zoom In

8. Invasion Cortez marched toward Tenochtitlan
Read “Invasion” pg. 229
Invasion
Cortez marched toward Tenochtitlan
Lands on the shores of Mexico
Befriended Tabasco people to help him defeat the Aztecs

9. Invasion Read “Using an Intermediary” pg. 229 Why two faces?
One of the slaves of the Tabasco was a young women who helped Cortes translate.
Named Malinche Her task was to act as an intermediary between Moctezuma and Cortez
She could speak both Mayan and Nahuatl
Converted to Christianity and was renamed Dona Marina
Became Cortez’s advisor, spy and wife
Was very important to Cortez’s conquest of the Aztecs
Why two faces?

10. Invasion Read pg. 231 “Aztec Strategy”
Moctezuma hears of the invaders and is now faced with a dilemma. Attack or wait.

11. March to Tenochtitlan
Cortez meets with the Totonacs to find some allies
After making allies, Cortez meets the Tlaxcala.
The meeting was not as friendly as with the Totonacs.
Cortez battles the Tlaxcalans
Peace is made

12. The Battle for Tenochtitlan
Cortez marches toward Tenochtitlan and sees the great city for the first time
Cortez meets with Moctezuma
After the meeting, Cortez and his soldiers are welcomed to stay
They become nervous about the Aztecs actions and take Moctezuma prisoner.

13. The Battle for Tenochtitlan
With Moctezuma under arrest, Cortez begins to take power of Tenochtitlan

14. The Battle for Tenochtitlan
Cortez hears that Velazquez sailed to the shores of Mexico to arrest Cortez for treason

15. Battle for Tenochtitlan
Pedro De Alvarado and His Soldiers Massacring the Aztecs
Cortez leaves Tenochtitlan to battle Velazquez and then convinces Velazquez’s army to join him.
Meanwhile back in Tenochtitlan, Pedro de Alvarado, second in-command tries to rule Tenochtitlan

16. Battle for Tenochtitlan
When Cortez arrives back in Tenochtitlan the Aztecs are rebelling against the Spaniards and forces Cortez to retreat.
The massacre of the Spaniards is called today as “La Noche Triste”

17. Battle for Tenochtitlan
Six months later, Cortez returns to retake Tenochtitlan. But smallpox has arrived before Cortez did and began killing the Aztecs for him

18. Mexico
Cortez conquers the Aztecs and returns to Spain a hero and a very wealthy man