1. Building an Empire European Colonization of the Americas
Clear Creek Amana 8th Grade Social Studies

2. Learning Goals Where did the Spanish settle Why did they settle it.
Consequences of settlement.

3. Spanish Conquistadors
Conquistadors = Conqueror
Spanish soldiers and explorers.
Motives of Conquistadors
Wealth
Power
Prestige
Spreading Christian Religion
Increasing Spanish Trade

4. Spanish Conquistadors receive permission to establish settlements in the Americas.
In return Spain gets 1/5 of all gold or treasure captured.

6. Conquest of the Aztecs Conquistador: Hernado Cortes, 1519
“We Spaniards know a sickness of the heart that only Gold can cure”.
Motivation: Gold and Wealth.

8. Cortes and Moctezuma Moctezuma II: Ruler of the Aztec Empire.
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Moctezuma II believed Cortes was a God.
Allowed Cortes into Tenochtitlán.
Taken prisoner by Cortes and his men.

9. Causes of the Defeat of the Aztecs
Alliances The Spanish had made allies in the region who gave them supplies, information, and warriors. (Tlaxcala)
Motivation:
Revenge
Privileged status
Survival

10. Causes of the Defeat of the Aztecs
Weapons The Spanish had better weapons than the Aztecs.
They had cannons, armor, swords, and horses that the Aztecs did not have.

11. Causes of the Defeat of the Aztecs
Geography: The Spanish were able to cut off the capital city. The people had no food or water, so many Aztecs died of starvation.

12. Causes of the Defeat of the Aztecs
Disease The Spanish had unknowingly brought deadly diseases such as smallpox to the Americas.
Cuitlahuac: Aztec ruler after Moctezuma
Died of Smallpox

13. Conquest of the Incas Francisco Pizarro: 1532
“There lies Peru with its riches; here Panama with its poverty. Choose each man what best becomes a brave Castilian”.
Motivation: Gold, Wealth

14. Fall of the Incas Superior Weapons and Horses. Disease.
Civil War among the Incas. (Hascuar v. Atahualpa).

15. Dividing the Land
Originally conquistadors governed the land they conquered.
Proved to be poor rulers.
Spanish colonies divided between two colonies
New Spain and Peru
Viceroy
Person who rules on behalf of King.

17. Types of Settlement. Pueblos: towns Presidios
Center for farming and trade
Presidios
Forts where soldiers lived

18. Society in Spain Divided into four social classes
Penisulares: Born in Spain, held the highest jobs in government and the Church.
Creoles: people born in America to Spanish Parents( Educated, worked in Universities and Law.
Mestizos: people with mixed Spanish and Indian background.( Farmers, Carpenters, Tailors)
Natives: people with 100% native background- treated as a conquered people

20. The Encomiendia System
Spanish gave Spanish Nobility a specific number of natives to look after.
Instruct them on the Spanish language.
Protect natives from warring tribes.
Teach them Christianity.
In return, Spanish could extract gold, silver or other products like corn, chickens or wheat.

22. End of Encomiendia
Came to an end when Spanish missionaries began to protest the abuse of Natives.
Replaced with a new system where natives where directly employed.