DD

A Comprehensive Study Note: Collision of Civilizations - Spaniards, Aztecs, and Incas

Collision of Civilizations: Spaniards, Aztecs, and Incas

Pre-Columbian Civilizations: A Historical Overview

  • The Clash Begins: The collision between European and New World civilizations started in 1492. At this time, only two major empires existed in the New World: the Aztecs and the Incas.

  • Highland Mexico / Mesoamerica (Timeline from 2500 B.C. to 2000 A.D.):

    • Olmec (c. 2500-500 B.C.): Known for sites like La Venta. Early sedentary farming villages emerged.

    • Maya (c. 1500 B.C. - 1500 A.D.): Cultivated maize, produced pottery. Significant sites include San Lorenzo, El Mirador, Tikal, Copán, Palenque, and Chichén Itzá. The Classic Period saw farming expansion. Sedentary farming villages were established.

    • Zapotec (c. 500 B.C. - 1500 A.D.): Major center was Monte Albán.

    • Teotihuacán (c. 1 - 700 A.D.): An early major city and state.

    • Toltec (c. 900 - 1200 A.D.): Preceded the Aztecs, with Tula as a key site.

    • Aztec (c. 1300 - 1521 A.D.): Established Tenochtitlán.

  • Peru (Timeline from 2500 B.C. to 2000 A.D.):

    • Early Cultures (c. 2500 B.C. - 1000 A.D.): Evidenced by sedentary farming villages at sites like El Paraiso. The El Niño weather pattern significantly influenced these cultures.

    • Chavín Cult (c. 1000 B.C. - 200 B.C.): A widespread religious influence.

    • Regional Kingdoms / Early Cities (c. 200 B.C. - 1000 A.D.): Included the Moche and Nazca cultures.

    • Empires and States (c. 600 - 1400 A.D.): Tiwanaku and Wari. Later, Chimor with its capital Chan Chan.

    • Inca (c. 1200 - 1532 A.D.): Centered in Cuzco, eventually forming a vast empire.

The Aztec Empire in 1519

  • Capital City: The Aztecs began building their capital city, Tenochtitlan, in Mexico in 1325.

  • Rule of Montezuma II: In 1502, Montezuma II became ruler. He engaged in wars against independent city-states in the Valley of Mexico.

  • Fragile State: By 1519, the Aztec empire was experiencing significant internal weaknesses:

    • Military failures.

    • Economic troubles.

    • Social unrest.

  • Centralization and Expansion: Montezuma II attempted to centralize power and maintain the over-extended empire, which had expanded across the Valley of Mexico and into Central America.

  • Extortionist Regime: The empire relied on force to extract prisoners, tribute, and food levies from neighboring peoples.

  • Human Sacrifice: As the state weakened, its rulers and priests continued to demand human sacrifice to appease their gods.

  • External Relations: In 1519, the Aztec Empire was not only weak internally but was also despised and feared by neighboring peoples, leaving them with few allies when hostilities with the Spanish began.

  • Aztec Timeline (Summary of key events from ext{1195 CE to 1522 CE}):

    • ext{1195 CE}: Aztecs arrive in the Valley of Mexico.

    • ext{1250 CE}: Aztecs settle near Lake Texcoco.

    • ext{1325 CE}: Tenochtitlan founded, first Aztec temple built.

    • ext{1350 CE}: Canals and causeways built.

    • ext{1370 CE}: Aztec Priest 'Tenoch' dies; Aztecs ruled by Tepanecs.

    • ext{1400 CE}: 'Acampichtli' becomes Aztec ruler.

    • ext{1423 CE}: Tepanecs defeated.

    • ext{1440 CE}: Emperor Moctezuma becomes ruler.

    • ext{1452 CE}: Tenochtitlan destroyed by flood.

    • ext{1472 CE}: Ahuizotl the Great begins ruling.

    • ext{1486 CE}: Temple at Tenochtitlan dedicated.

    • ext{1502 CE}: Moctezuma II becomes ruler.

    • ext{1519 CE}: Cortes arrives in Mexico; Moctezuma II is killed.

    • ext{1520 CE}: Cuitlahuac elected ruler; Tenochtitlan destroyed.

    • ext{1521 CE}: Tenochtitlan destroyed (repetition in original timeline).

    • ext{1522 CE}: Tenochtitlan rebuilt as Mexico City, declared a Spanish colony.

Hernan Cortes: The Conqueror of Mexico

  • Early Life and Education:

    • Born in Medellin, Extremadura, Spain, in 1485. His parents were minor Spanish nobility.

    • At age 14 (1499), he attended the University of Salamanca to study law.

  • Arrival in the New World:

    • In 1504 (age 19), he sailed to what is now the Dominican Republic.

    • By 1511 (age 26), he joined an army led by Diego Velázquez, participating in the conquest of Cuba. Velázquez became governor, and Cortes was elected Mayor-Judge of Santiago.

  • Expedition to Mexico and Conquest:

    • In 1519 (age 34), Cortes' expedition entered Mexico.

    • On Aug ext{. }13 ext{, }1521, his final all-out attack on Tenochtitlan led to the deaths of 15,000 Aztecs and the capture of Emperor Cuauhtémoc.

  • Return to Spain and Later Expeditions:

    • In 1528, Cortes returned to Spain and was granted the title