Conquistadors and Pre-Conquistadors and Pre-Columbian CivizaltionColumbian Civizaltion

By: Michael Donnelly

STANDARDSSTANDARDS• 5.2 Identify the three major pre-Columbian

civilizations that existed in Central and South America (Maya, Aztec, and Inca) and their locations. Describe their political structures, religious practices, and use of slaves.

• 5.4 Explain why the Aztec and Inca civilizations declined in the 16th century.

• A. the encounters between Cortez and Montezuma• B. the encounters between Pizarro and the Incas• C. the goals of the Spanish conquistadors• D. the effects of European diseases, particularly

smallpox, throughout the Western hemisphere

AztecsAztecsThey lived in Central

Mexico. Tenochtitlan was their

capital city, they built the capital in

the middle of a lake.Their ruler was called

Montezuma.They were Polytheistic,

believed in many gods. Human sacrifice a lot.

• ecuip.lib.uchicago.edu

MAYASMAYAS• Lived on the “Yucatan

Peninsula”.

• Many major cities which makes them tougher to conquer.

• Had slaves, that could sometimes earn their freedom!

• Did not have a lot of gold.

• Polytheistic (believed in many gods)

IncasIncas• They lived in Peru, They lived in Peru,

Andes Mts., located in Andes Mts., located in South A.South A.

• Polytheistic (belief in Polytheistic (belief in

many gods)many gods) No written No written language (used knots).language (used knots).

• Sacrificed lamas. very Sacrificed lamas. very important)important)

• When Spanish arrived When Spanish arrived they were having a they were having a civil warcivil war

hss.fullerton.edu

CortezCortez• Captured Aztec capital with 500 men and 16 horses in

1519.• Other native groups helped in capture.• Spanish were driven away but in 1521 they captured all

the Aztecs and killed Montezuma• Aztecs believed he was Quetzacoatla light skinned god who had disappearedyears before.• Cortez is one of the many Conquistadors from Spain

en.wikipedia.org

PizarroPizarro• Kidnapped Atahualpa and held him for a

ransom of gold and silver. • Captured Incas and called the land “New

Spanish”.• Led 180 men and 27 horses into Peru.• Came during time Incas were having a

civil war for who would be the head Inca. (A civil war is one more than one group in the same country is fighting each other.)

What they did?What they did?• Now a huge portion of the Central and

South America speaks Spanish.

• Barely any Aztec,Maya,and Inca tradition today.

• Today the majority of the people are Christian.

• Destroyed Aztec capital and founded Mexico City on top of it.