Conquistadors

Miss Bonner

Do Now: Picture Analysis- Analyze the painting below in your notebook, describe what you see happening.

The Conquistadores (conquerors)

Lured to the new world by rumors of gold. 1519-1521 Hernando Cortes, of Spain, hears that

the Aztecs have a wealthy empire in central Mexico. He conquers Montezuma and his empire with 600 men and with the help of Aztec enemies from surrounding villages.

1533 Francisco Pizarro, also of Spain, conquered the Incan empire with 200 men.

How did they do it?

The Spanish had superior weapons including guns and cannons. The Natives had only bows and arrows.

Disease including measles, mumps, and smallpox, killed hundreds of thousands by the time Cortes Launched his counter attack. A similar situation occurred with Pizarro and the Incas.

Cortes, with the help of his translator La Malinche, learned that some natives resented the Aztecs and he convinced the Natives to fight on his side.

The Aztecs may have believed that Cortes was a god, and invited him in to the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan.

Mankind Questions for Conquistadors-37:11 – 44:11

1. Cortes was invited into Montezuma’s throne room. What was his plan?

2. The Aztecs held a revolt against their captive emperor. Cortes tried to get Montezuma to stop the revolt. How did that work out?

3.  4. More than any other weapon, ______________ helped

Cortes defeat the Aztecs.

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Exit Card:Match the conquistador to his

accomplishment

1. Hernan Cortes2. Francisco Pizarro3. Ponce de Leon4. Francisco Coronado

A. Searched for the fountain of youth

B. Conquered the Inca

C. Conquered the Aztecs

D. Explored American southwest