The Fall of Tenochtitlan

Aztec Civilization

Descendents of the Toltecs Legend of Huitzilopochtli (their God) Promised Land = place where an eagle landed on

a cactus while eating a snake Lake Texcoco, Tenochtitlan (meaning "Place of

the Nopal Cactus")

Tenochtitlan

Mexican Flag

Huitzilopochtli = war god Human sacrifice of neighboring tribes (rip

out human hearts, cannibalism of brave warriors)

Quetzalcoatl = brother of Huitzilopochtli, was to return (white god)

Cortes

Hernan Cortes – (1519) sent to Mexico from governor of Cuba, search for lost expedition

Hears of the wealthy land of Moctezuma (Aztec king) …..changes his mission!

Sinks ships so men cannot turn back Cortes’s supplies:500 soldiers, 16 horses, some

guns

Moctezuma Hears of Cortes’ arrival "Our lord and king, forgive my boldness. When I went to

the shores of the great sea, there was a mountain range or small mountain floating in the midst of the water, moving here and there without touching the shore."

"It is true that strange people have come to the shores of the great sea. They have very light skin, much lighter than ours. They all have beards, and their hair is fair and comes only to their ears."

Other omens: comets, strange weather Moctezuma believes Quetzalcoatl (white god) is returning Sends gifts – Gold!

Cortes takes Moctezuma prisoner Also received help from enemies of Aztecs, Malintzin =

interpreter

Governor of Cuba sends officials to stop Cortes, Cortes marches back to coast and defeats them

While Cortes is away…..Aztecs rebel, take back city

Moctezuma dies (thought to be accidental) Outnumbered Spanish take many losses

Cortes gathers Indian soldiers (enemies of Aztecs) Attacks city with canoes Cortes has guns and cannons Spanish build a

portable Bridge Other Aztec communities fall Illnesses (small pox)

Francisco Pizarro Spanish officer (arrested

Balboa) Heard of gold in Andes

Mountains 1531 lands in Peru,

reaches Inca empire

Inca had been weakened by small pox Involved in civil war Pizarro invites ruler Atahuallpa to dinner and

kidnaps him Offer gold and silver as ransom Pizarro kills him anyhow Joins forces with enemies to conquer empire