Colombus, Cortes, Pizarro: The Spanish Conquest

Why did CC want to find a faster route to Asia?

spices (valuable)

Why is CC so excited to see Native Americans wearing gold in the New World?

to prove that there was wealth there to Isabel and Ferdinand

wWhy did CC get arrested and sent back to Spain?

his mistreatment of Hispanola

old world→ new world (only know a couple)

livestock (horses!), grapes, coffee, beans

new world→ old world (only know a couple)

squash, turkeys, vanilla, diseases

biggest killer of native americans

disease

the god that told the Mexica to found a city of their own

the sun god (huitzilopochtli)

what did the god tell them to look for?

an eagle perched on a cactus with a snake in its mouth

Tenochtitlan

large urban center, in Lake Texcoco

island connected to mainland by

causeways

What were chinampas and what purpose did they serve?

stakes in the lake beds filled with mud to grow crops year-round

who were the victims of human sacrifice in Aztec religious rituals? why were they killed?

prisoners of war, to appease the gods (thought they would be blessed)

what did the Aztecs do during their nomadic journeys to survive?

worked as mercanaries

who were the pochteca? how did they help the Aztecs conquer new territory>

Aztec spies, they worked as mercenaries to gather intelligence of the city they were in

how did the Aztecs control their empire?

divide into provinces, demand tribute from conquered people (gold, maize, labor), exercised loose control over much of empire, let local officials rule (as long as they paid tribute), respond brutally if they didn’t

1502 Montezuma 2 crowned emperor

demands tribute and sacrifices from the provinces, created unrest and rebellion

Spanish arrived and the people believed that

they were the return of a god to claim his land

Cortes

commanded his own expedition to Mexico

La Malinche

a women given to him by local tribe (his interpreter and baby mama)

what was cortes determined to do?

conquer Aztecs, conquers local tribes first and tries to convert them to Christianity

what happens when the Spanish arrive in Tenochtitlan?

Montezuma greets them and is welcoming, Cortes takes him captive and raids the city

La Noche Triste

The night of tears, when the Aztecs drove the Spanish from the city

Fall of the Aztec Empire

Cortes seizes control of surrounding territories, battle of Tenchtitlan

why did the Spanish win?

superior weaponry, smallpox outbreak

which allies are crucial to Cortes’ victory over the Aztecs?

indigenous people; they didn’t like the Aztecs (payments and sacrifice)

what myth arises in Spain about Cortes’ victory?

that Spaniards toppled a tyrannical empire (left out NA who helped)

Incan Empire

Incan legend said that sun god, Inti sent his son Manco Capac to lead Incan people to Cuzco

quipu

knotted cords used for accounting purposes

Incan system of conquest

show up in new territory, provide lavish fear, offer deal- become a part of empire or die

The Incans

heavily taxed tributes/subjects, worshiped sun god, incredible road/courier system

Incan Civil War (starts with)

struggle for succession ends w Huayna Cupac taking power, Spanish arrive and start spreading disease, Capac dies- new struggle between brothers, Atahualpa wins

Spanish are led by

Francisco Pizarro

Pizarro arrives in Peru and

hears of great riches, goes back to Spain and gets permission to claim land and gain governorship of said land

Inan people ransom Atahualpa with

24 tons of silver and gold

2nd expedition to Peru

Spaniards invite Atahualpa to a feast then ambush him

Pizarro and de Almagro engage in conflict (guy on expedition)

Pizarro sends his brother to kill him but his supporters retaliate by assassinating Pizarro in 1541