What was the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire?
The Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire, known as the Spanish–Mexica War (1519–21), was one of the primary events in the Spanish colonization of the Americas.
What are some good books about the conquest of the Aztecs?
Print. Levy, Buddy. Conquistador: Hernan Cortes, King Montezuma and the Last Stand of the Aztecs. New York: Bantam, 2008. Thomas, Hugh. Conquest: Montezuma, Cortes and the Fall of Old Mexico. New York: Touchstone, 1993. Minster, Christopher. "The Conquest of the Aztec Empire."
Why did the Europeans not conquer the Aztecs?
Europeans Invade the Aztec Empire. The conquistador was never able to predict or understand the Aztecs’ willingness to withstand misery, starvation, and massive deaths rather than surrender. Neither words nor the force of arms served him to persuade Cuauhtémoc, the last Aztec ruler, to submit to Spanish authority.
When did the Aztecs rule Mexico?
In 1519, when the Spanish first made official contact with the Empire, the Aztecs ruled most of present-day Mexico either directly or indirectly.
What European country conquered the Aztecs?
Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés (c. 1485-1547) is best known for conquering the Aztecs and claiming Mexico on behalf of Spain. Cortés (full name Don Hernán Cortés de Monroy y Pizarro Altamirano, Marquis of the Valley of Oaxaca) first served as a soldier in an expedition of Cuba led by Diego Velázquez in 1511.
What person conquered the Aztecs?
Hernán Cortés de Monroy y Pizarro AltamiranoHernán Cortés de Monroy y Pizarro Altamirano, 1st Marquess of the Valley of Oaxaca (/kɔːrˈtɛs/; Spanish: [eɾˈnaŋ koɾˈtez ðe monˈroj i piˈθaro altamiˈɾano]; 1485 – December 2, 1547) was a Spanish conquistador who led an expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire and brought large portions of what is now ...
Did the Europeans invade the Aztecs?
Hernán Cortés and his company reached the island of San Juan de Ulúa on the coast of the Aztec province of Cuetlaxtlan (Veracruz) on April 20, 1519. Soon after, the Spaniards began exchanging messages with the ruler Motecuhzoma Xocoyotzin in Mexico-Tenochtitlan.
How did the Aztecs fall?
Cortés's army besieged Tenochtitlán for 93 days, and a combination of superior weaponry and a devastating smallpox outbreak enabled the Spanish to conquer the city. Cortés's victory destroyed the Aztec empire, and the Spanish began to consolidate control over what became the colony of New Spain.
Why did the Aztecs fall?
The Aztec had no immunity to European diseases. Smallpox spread among the indigenous people and crippled their ability to resist the Spanish. The disease devastated the Aztec people, greatly reducing their population and killing an estimated half of Tenochtitlán's inhabitants.
How were Europeans able to take over Aztec and Inca lands?
Only by playing upon the disunity among the diverse groups in the Aztec Empire were the Spanish able to capture Tenochtitlán. In August 1521, Cortés claimed Tenochtitlán for Spain and renamed it Mexico City. The Spanish also brought smallpox, which took a heavy toll on the people in Tenochtitlán.
Why did the Spanish want to conquer the Aztecs?
Cortes wanted to conquer the aztecs for gold glory and god. Because of these things, many people in the Aztec Empire were unhappy. Some of them helped the Spanish conquistadors take over the Empire.
Did Montezuma think Cortés was a god?
An unnerving series of coincidences led Montezuma to believe that perhaps Cortés was the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl, who had promised to return one day to reclaim his kingdom. Quetzalcoatl, "the feathered serpent," stood for the solar light, the morning star.
What did the Spanish do to the Aztecs?
They introduced the Aztecs to domestic animals, sugar, grains, and European farming practices. Most significantly, the Spanish ended the Aztec's practice of human sacrifice. The Aztecs sacrificed human victims on each of their 18 annual festivities, according to the New World Encyclopedia.
What did Cortés do to the Aztecs?
During the Spaniards' retreat, they defeated a large Aztec army at Otumba and then rejoined their Tlaxcaltec allies. In May 1521, Cortés returned to Tenochtitlán, and after a three-month siege the city fell. This victory marked the fall of the Aztec empire.
What did Pizarro do?
Francisco Pizarro was an explorer, soldier and conquistador best known for conquering the Incas and executing their leader, Atahuapla. He was born around 1474 in Trujillo, Spain. As a soldier, he served on the 1513 expedition of Vasco Núñez de Balboa, during which he discovered the Pacific Ocean.
Why did the Aztecs surrender?
Apparently, Cortés had hoped that the Aztecs would surrender so that he could capture Tenochtitlan intact and present it as a prize to the Spanish monarch Charles V. However, during the battle, the Aztec’s sacrificed many of the Spanish prisoners of war that they had held captive. This angered Cortés and caused him to order the destruction of the city and the Aztec people. Tenochtitlan was finally captured by the Spanish and Tlaxcala on August 13th, 1521. Cuauhtémoc was taken prisoner and the Aztec Empire was no more. The battle had devastated large parts of the city, with huge sections of the temples and buildings destroyed. However, after capturing the city, the Spanish continued its destruction by taking down any religious symbols and temples. As well, they burned large areas of the city to root out the remaining people. With their city destroyed, the Aztec people scattered throughout the Valley of Mexico. Cortés and the Spanish began to build a new city on top of the ruins of Tenochtitlan, which eventually became Mexico City. In the decades and centuries that followed the Spanish continued their campaigns of conquest in central America against indigenous peoples. For example, Francisco Pizarro’s conquest of the Inca in Peru was based partially on Cortés’ conquest of the Aztec in Mexico.
Why did Moctezuma II rule over Tenochtitlan?
This is because Moctezuma II continued to rule over the Aztec Empire and city of Tenochtitlan from his imprisonment in the Aztec palace. The Aztec nobility and religious leaders became very angry during this time with the Spanish. They believed that Moctezuma II was weak and had let the Spanish take over the city.
What was the next major event in the Spanish conquest of the Aztecs?
The next major event in the Spanish conquest of the Aztec was the death of Moctezuma II. Sometime during the conflict between the Spanish and the Aztecs, Moctezuma II was killed, however there are different accounts of the event and historians are unsure of the truth.
How many omens were there in the Aztecs?
As the account goes, there were said to be eight omens in total that foretold the arrival of the Spanish and the collapse of the Aztec Empire. Regardless, the Aztecs were amazed by the Spanish. First, the Aztec had never seen a person with white skin before.
What was the Aztec Empire?
The Aztec Empire was a powerful collection of city-states in what is today modern-day Mexico. It began as an alliance of three city-states, known as the Aztec Triple Alliance, which included: Tenochtitlan , Texcoco, and Tlacopan.
How did the Spanish attack Tenochtitlan?
The Spanish began their attack against Tenochtitlan by destroying the aqueducts that brought fresh water to the city. As well, Cortés ordered his troops to surround the city and stop it from receiving food supplies. This effectively cut off the city from the surrounding areas and further weakened the already suffering Aztec people who were struggling with the effects of smallpox and unstable leadership. Furthermore, Cortés had his men launch several small ships into Lake Texcoco, which prevented the people of Tenochtitlan from escaping or receiving help. The fighting of the final battle for Tenochtitlan was brutal. The Aztec people in the city, who were starving and suffering from smallpox, were bombarded by Spanish cannons and firearms.
What is an omen?
Omens are events which are said to have significance on future events or occurrences. For instance, one of the roles of high priests in the Aztec religion was to interpret significant events to predict their impact on the huey tlatoani and the Aztec Empire.
Were The Spanish Afeat Of The Native Mexicans And European Superiority Over Indigenous Americans
concluding that the defeat of the Native Mexicans demonstrated European superiority over Indigenous Americans? The defeat of the Native Mexicans (or Aztecs) can be believed to have verified the Spanish that they had political and social superiority over all Indigenous Americans.
Global Expansion And The Conquest Of The Aztec Empire
establishing trade, business, and military powers had led to the development and advancement of all the continents. The purpose of exploration, conquest and governmental power are common themes that are shared among the powers of 16th century Europe.
The Broken Spears by Miguel Leon-Portilla Essay
completely at fault for the total destruction of the Aztec Empire. In Broken spears, the author explains how many factors other than Spanish power contributed to the downfall of the Aztecs. Not only did the Spanish have many advantages over the Aztecs, but also they also exploited them and took advantage of the cultural difference.
The European Expansion and Its Impact on Indigenous People
Burlingham History 110B 02 October 2012 The European Expansion and Its Impact on Indigenous People 15th and 16th century European conquest in Africa and Latin America was significant for global expansion. Important areas such as the West African coast and Mexico were explored, making this period of time momentous.
1. How Did Social Change In Europe Contribute To European Expansion Abroad?
Treaty of Tordesillas: -Treaty negotiated by the pope in 1494 to resolve the territorial claims of spain and Portugal. Protestant Reformation: -All European supporters of religious reform under Charles V’s Holy Roman Empire. Predestination: -The belief that God decided at the moment of Creation which humans would achieve salvation.
Broken Spears
at fault for the total destruction of the Aztec Empire. In Broken spears, the author explains how many factors other than Spanish power contributed to the downfall of the Aztecs. Not only did the Spanish have many advantages over the Aztecs, but also they also exploited them and took advantage of the cultural difference.
Victors and Vanquished Essay
Victors and Vanquished The history of the Western hemisphere is full of war and conquest. One of the most significant and defining of those conquests is the downfall of the Mexica/Aztec Empire. While there are many other events to choose from, this one stands out since it was one over one of the largest empires in Central America.
What were the Aztec gods?
In the great cities of the Aztec empire, magnificent temples, palaces, plazas and statues embodied the civilization’s unfailing devotion to the many Aztec gods, including Huitzilopochtli (god of war and of the sun) and Quetzalcoatl (“Feathered Serpent”), a Toltec god who served many important roles in the Aztec faith over the years.
How many people did the Aztecs have?
By the early 16th century, the Aztecs had come to rule over up to 500 small states, and some 5 to 6 million people, either by conquest or commerce. Tenochtitlán at its height had more than 140,000 inhabitants, and was the most densely populated city ever to exist in Mesoamerica.
What was the name of the Aztecs?
The Aztecs were also known as the Tenochca (from which the name for their capital city, Tenochtitlan, was derived) or the Mexica (the origin of the name of the city that would replace Tenochtitlan, as well as the name for the entire country).
What was the Aztec civilization?
The Aztec civilization was also highly developed socially, intellectually and artistically. It was a highly structured society with a strict caste system; at the top were nobles, while at the bottom were serfs, indentured servants and enslaved workers. Recommended for you. 1943. The Harlem Riot of 1943 begins.
What did the Aztecs do when they saw an eagle?
When the Aztecs saw an eagle perched on a cactus on the marshy land near the southwest border of Lake Texcoco, they took it as a sign to build their settlement there. They drained the swampy land, constructed artificial islands on which they could plant gardens and established the foundations of their capital city, Tenochtitlán, in 1325 A.D.
Where did Cortes and his men arrive?
In November 1519, Cortes and his men arrived in Tenochtitlan, where Montezuma and his people greeted them as honored guests according to Aztec custom (partially due to Cortes’ physical resemblance to the light-skinned Quetzalcoatl, whose return was prophesied in Aztec legend).
Where did the Aztecs come from?
The Aztecs, who probably originated as a nomadic tribe in northern Mexico, arrived in Mesoamerica around the beginning of the 13th century. From their magnificent capital city, Tenochtitlan, the Aztecs emerged as the dominant force in central Mexico, developing an intricate social, political, religious and commercial organization ...
What language did Malinalli speak?
Malinalli became baptized with the Christian name Marina, and was later known as La Malinche. La Malinche spoke both the Aztec language of Náhuatl and Mayan Chontal and worked alongside the Spanish invaders, providing the conquistadors with the ability to communicate with any Indigenous groups they encountered.
What weapons did the Conquistadors use in Mexico?
Photo12/Universal Images Group/Getty Images. The conquistadors arrived in Mesoamerica with steel swords, muskets, cannons, pikes, crossbows, dogs and horses. None of these assets had yet been used in battle in the Americas.
What was the greatest city in the world?
At first the conquistadors described Tenochtitlán as the greatest city they had ever seen. It was situated on a human-made island in the middle of Lake Texcoco. From its central location, Tenochtitlán served as a hub for Aztec trade and politics.
What did Tenochtitlán residents demand?
Tenochtitlán residents demanded the Spanish be removed from the city. When the detained Moctezuma could no longer control Tenochtitlán’s residents, the Spaniards either allowed him to die during a skirmish in 1520 or killed him—depending on varying accounts.
What did the Conquistadors do with Tenochtitlán?
With Tenochtitlán encircled, the conquistadors relied on their Indigenous allies for key logistical support and launched attacks from local Indigenous encampments. Meanwhile, another factor began to take its toll. Unbeknownst to the Spanish, some among their ranks had been infected with smallpox when they had departed Europe. Once these men arrived in the Americas, the virus began to spread—both among their indigenous allies and the Aztecs.
How long did the Spanish hold Tenochtitlán?
Working in alliance with some 200,000 Indigenous warriors from city-states, particularly the Tlaxcala and Cempoala (groups who had resented the Aztec/Mexicas and wanted to see them vanquished), the Spanish conquistadors held Tenochtitlán under siege from May 22 through August 13, 1521—a total of 93 days.
When was Tenochtitlán conquered?
And yet Tenochtitlán was swiftly conquered by the Spanish in 1521 —less than two years after Hernándo Cortés and Spanish conquistadors first set foot in the Aztec capital on November 8, 1519. How did Cortés manage to overthrow the seat of the Aztec Empire?
How long did the Aztecs plague last?
The Aztecs were struck by a smallpox plague starting in September 1520, which lasted seventy days. Many were killed, including their new leader, the Emperor Cuitlahuac. : 92–93
When did the Aztecs end?
The Aztec Empire ceased to exist with the Spanish final conquest of Tenochtitlan in August 1521. The empire had been composed of separate city-states that had either allied with or been conquered by the Mexica of Tenochtitlan, and rendered tribute to the Mexica while maintaining their internal ruling structures. Those polities now came under Spanish rule, also retaining their internal structures of ruling elites, tribute paying commoners, and land holding and other economic structures largely intact. Two key works by historian Charles Gibson, Tlaxcala in the Sixteenth Century (1952) and his monograph The Aztecs Under Spanish Rule: A History of the Indians of the Valley of Mexico, 1519–1810 (1964) were central in reshaping the historiography of the indigenous and their communities from the Spanish Conquest to the 1810 Mexican independence era.
What was the role of cavalry in the Spanish Conquest?
In addition, aside from the infantry and the allies' role in the Spanish conquest, cavalry was the "arm of decision in the conquest" and "the key ingredient in the Spanish forces". Many of those on the Cortés expedition of 1519 had never seen combat before, including Cortés.
How many horses were left in the Spanish escape?
The Spanish were able to complete their escape to Tlaxcala. There, they were given assistance, since all 440 of them were wounded, with only 20 horses left. Maxixcatzin, Xicotencatl the Elder and Chichimecatecle told Cortés's men: "Consider yourselves at home. Rest...do not think it a small thing that you have escaped with your lives from that strong city...if we thought of you as brave men before, we consider you much braver now." : 306–07
What was the key event in the formation of the Spanish Empire overseas?
The Spanish conquest of Mexico had antecedents with established practices. The fall of the Aztec Empire was the key event in the formation of the Spanish Empire overseas, with New Spain, which later became Mexico .
Who was the leader of the Spanish army in 1521?
The Spanish campaign against the Aztec Empire had its final victory on 13 August 1521, when a coalition army of Spanish forces and native Tlaxcalan warriors led by Cortés and Xicotencatl the Younger captured the emperor Cuauhtémoc and Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec Empire.
What was the Spanish weapon used for?
In the words of Restall, "Spanish weapons were useful for breaking the offensive lines of waves of indigenous warriors, but this was no formula for conquest... rather, it was a formula for survival, until Spanish and indigenous reinforcements arrived.".
What did the inhabitants of Tenochtitlan say about wild men?
In those hills the inhabitants' accounts say there are wild men, shaggy as the furry bears of mountain dens and satisfied with filthy foods born in the earth or game. After the larger map, we saw another a little smaller, but with no less enthusiasm on our part, the very city of Tenochtitlan with its temples and bridges and surrounding lakes painted by indigenous hand. After this, [Ribera] had an indigenous youngster equipped as a warrior, whom he brought as his servant, come out from my room to the open terrace where we sat.
What did the Conquistadors do in 1519?
September 18, 1519 The conquistadors, after waging a violent war in the Tlaxcalan province, enter the city of Tlaxcala to establish an alliance with the indigenous leaders Maxixcatzin and Xicotencatl.
What was the map of Motecuhzoma made of?
Among the maps of their land, we truly examined one that was thirty feet long, a little smaller in width, made of white woven cotton, in which all the plains with their provinces, both enemy and friendly to Motecuhzoma, were extensively inscribed. It shows at the same time vast mountains enclosing the plains all around and also the southern coasts, from whose inhabitants we heard that there are islands close to those shores where, as we said before, they grow great amounts of spices, gold and gems.
What was the most important source of information about the Spanish conquest of Mexico?
One of the most important sources on the Spanish conquest is Francisco López de Gómara’s Historia general de las Indias, the second section of which includes a detailed picture of indigenous culture and society in Mexico. Gómara worked with a wealth of sources, from previous accounts of the conquest to detailed studies of indigenous religion by missionaries in the field. Like most of his contemporaries, Gómara had difficulty grasping the breadth of indigenous learning. The various means of transmitting this knowledge were equally opaque to him.
What was the purpose of the Codex Mendoza?
Indigenous painted books were a critical source for Spanish colonizers trying to understand the unfamiliar culture. Produced for Viceroy Antonio de Mendoza, the Codex Mendoza is a pictorial compilation that includes the imperial history of Tenochtitlan, tribute records, and a description of indigenous life from childhood to old age.
Why did the Spaniards use the Devil?
Early on, Spaniards identified indigenous gods with the Devil and used the concept of the Devil to convince indigenous people to abandon their traditional religious practices. Indians themselves embraced the European notion of the Devil and even used it ingeniously to challenge the imported religion.
Where were the Cholulan nobles massacred?
October 1519 The conquistadors massacre over one hundred unarmed Cholulan nobles in the courtyard of the Temple of Quetzalcoatl.
How did the Conquistadors decide to kill two birds with one stone?
The second was how to rule large swaths of conquered land. They decided to kill two birds with one stone by implementing the encomienda system.
What weapons did the Spanish Conquistadors use?
The Spanish Conquistadors came armed with cannons, crossbows, lances, fine Toledo swords and firearms, none of which had ever been seen by Native warriors before.
What was the worst disease in the Conquistadors?
Far worse than the violence inflicted by the conquistadors was the horror of smallpox. The disease arrived on the shores of Mexico with one of the members of Panfilo de Narvaez' army in 1520 and soon spread; it even reached the Inca Empire in South America by 1527.
What was the encomienda system?
In reality, the encomienda system was thinly-disguised enslavement and millions died in unspeakable conditions, particularly in mines. The "New Laws" of 1542 tried to rein in the worst aspects of the system, but they were so unpopular with colonists that Spanish landowners in Peru went into open rebellion.
What was Spain like before 1492?
Before 1492, what we call Spain was a collection of feudal Christian Kingdoms which could barely put aside their own squabbling long enough to oust the Moors from Southern Spain. One hundred years later, a united Spain was a European powerhouse. Some of that had to do with a series of efficient rulers, but much was because of the great wealth flowing into Spain from its New World holdings. Although much of the original gold looted from the Aztec Empire was lost to shipwrecks or pirates, rich silver mines were discovered in Mexico and later in Peru. This wealth made Spain a world power and involved them in wars and conquests around the globe. The tons of silver, much of which was made into the famous pieces of eight, would encourage Spain's "Siglo de Oro" or "golden century" which saw great contributions in art, architecture, music, and literature from Spanish artists.
What was the significance of the tons of silver in the Spanish silver?
The tons of silver, much of which was made into the famous pieces of eight, would encourage Spain's "Siglo de Oro" or "golden century" which saw great contributions in art, architecture, music, and literature from Spanish artists.
What was the encomendero responsible for?
The encomendero was responsible for the safety, education and religious well-being of the men and women on his land , and in exchange, they paid him with goods, food, labor, etc. The system was implemented in subsequent conquests, including Central America and Peru.
The Arrival of Cortes
- Since 1492, when Christopher Columbus discovered the New World, the Spanish had fairly thoroughly explored the Caribbean by 1518. They became aware of a large landmass to the west, and some expeditions had visited the shores of the Gulf Coast, but no lasting settlement had be…
Cortes Marches Inland
- The first emissaries from the Aztecs arrived, bearing gifts and seeking information about these interlopers. The rich gifts, meant to buy off the Spanish and make them go away, had the opposite effect: they wanted to see the riches of the Aztecs for themselves. The Spanish made their way inland, ignoring pleas and threats from Montezumato go away. When they reached the lands of t…
The Cholula Massacre
- In October, Cortes and his men and allies passed through the city of Cholula, home of the cult to the god Quetzalcoatl. Cholula was not exactly a vassal of the Aztecs, but the Triple Alliance had much influence there. After spending a couple of weeks there, Cortes learned of a plot to ambush the Spanish when they left the city. Cortes summoned the leaders of the city to one of the squar…
Entry Into Tenochtitlan and Capture of Montezuma
- In November of 1519, the Spanish entered Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Mexica people and leader of the Aztec Triple Alliance. They were welcomed by Montezuma and put in a sumptuous palace. The deeply religious Montezuma had dithered and fretted about the arrival of these foreigners and did not oppose them. Within a couple of weeks, Montezuma had allowed himself …
The Night of Sorrows
- In May of 1520, Cortes was forced to take most of his men and return to the coast to face a new threat: a large Spanish force, led by veteran conquistador Panfilo de Narvaez, sent by Governor Velazquez to rein him in. Although Cortes defeated Narvaez and added most of his men to his own army, things got out of hand in Tenochtitlan in his absence. On May 20, Pedro de Alvarado, …
The Siege of Tenochtitlan
- While in Tlaxcala, the Spanish received reinforcements and supplies, rested, and prepared to take the city of Tenochtitlan. Cortes ordered the construction of thirteen brigantines, large boats which could sail or be rowed and which would tip the balance while assaulting the island. Most importantly for the Spanish, an epidemic of smallpox broke out in Mesoamerica, slaying millions…
Aftermath of The Conquest of The Aztec Empire
- Within two years, the Spanish invaders had taken down the most powerful city-state in Mesoamerica, and the implications were not lost on the remaining city-states in the region. There was sporadic fighting for decades to come, but in effect, the conquest was a done deal. Cortes earned a title and vast lands and stole most of the riches from his men by short-changing them …
Sources
- Diaz del Castillo, Bernal. Trans., ed. J.M. Cohen. 1576. London, Penguin Books, 1963. Print.
- Levy, Buddy. Conquistador: Hernan Cortes, King Montezuma and the Last Stand of the Aztecs.New York: Bantam, 2008.
- Thomas, Hugh. Conquest: Montezuma, Cortes and the Fall of Old Mexico. New York: Touchstone, 1993.