Conquest in the AmericasChapter 15 Section 1

Mr. Divett

Columbus

• The cycle of conquest started with the arrival of Columbus

• He met the Taínos and treated them harshly

• He made them pay him gold or be killed

Conquistadors

• Columbus was first of many conquistadors, or conquerors

• First settled on Hispaniola or modern-day Haiti/Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Puerto Rico

• They took riches and left Christianity

Horses, Guns, and Silent Killers

• Natives had never seen horses before• The Spanish had guns• Disease was brought over by the Spanish and the Natives had no immunity

Cortés the Killer

• Hernán Cortés landed in Mexico in 1519

• He had 600 men and 16 horses

• He was enticed by money

Tenochtitlán

• Cortés made his way into Tenochtitlán, the capital of the Aztecs, now Mexico City

The Aztecs

• Practiced human sacrifice

• Played cool games

La Malinche

• Malinche was Cortés’ girlfriend

• She was the mother of the Mestizo race

• Traitor to some• Hero to others• Had alliances with

Spanish

Moctezuma

• Aztec Emperor• Was kind to Cortés• Thought Cortés might be the

return of Quetzacoatl

Destruction of Tenochtitlán

• The Spanish captured Moctezuma

• They stole their riches

• The natives fought back and drove them out

• Many died including Moctezuma

Destruction of Tenochtitlán

• Cortés came back and captured and destroyed Tenochtitlán

• They built Mexico City on the ruins

Neil Young’s Interpretation

• Neil Young wrote a song about it called Cortez the Killer

Cortez the KillerHe came dancing across the waterWith his galleons and gunsLooking for the new worldIn that palace in the sun.

On the shore lay MontezumaWith his coca leaves and pearlsIn his halls he often wonderedWith the secrets of the worlds.

And his subjectsGathered 'round himLike the leaves around a treeIn their clothes of many colorsFor the angry gods to see.

And the women all were beautifulAnd the men stoodStraight and strongThey offered life in sacrificeSo that others could go on.

Hate was just a legendAnd war was never knownThe people worked togetherAnd they lifted many stones.

They carried themTo the flatlandsAnd they died along the wayBut they built upWith their bare handsWhat we still can't do today.

And I know she's living thereAnd she loves me to this dayI still can't remember whenOr how I lost my way.

He came dancing across the waterCortez, CortezWhat a killer.

Pizarro

• Francisco Pizarro was inspired by Cortés

• Pizarro thought the Inca might be even more rich than the Aztecs

• He arrived in Peru in 1532

Atahualpa

• Atahualpa ruled the Inca after a civil war

• He refused to become Christian and join the Spanish

Capture

• The Spanish captured him and demanded ransom

• The Inca paid it

Death

• The Spanish killed him anyway

• They also killed thousands of Inca

Consequences of Conquest

• The conquistadors changed the world in good ways and bad

Effects on Spanish

• Victory• Riches

Effects on Natives

• Death• Tragedy• Loss of Religion• Loss of Culture