Spanish Empire in the Americas

by Kariss Miller

Diego Vasicuio• Lived 1580-1670’s.• He was a native priest in Peru and spent time doing mita labor which was

hazardous work.• The Spanish attempted to convert the Peruvian Indians to Catholics.• Diego’s grandparents trusted that he would keep the stone image of God of

Sorimana and to also perform the cult rituals as he was taught.• Diego finally answers to charges of heresy when he is in his 90’s.

Martin Ocelotl• Lived 1496-1537.• He was a priest within the Aztec Empire, from Chinanta in Mexico.• Martin continued his religious practices even after the fall of the Aztec Empire.• Over time Martin converted to Christianity, and then in his 20’s he was baptized

Catholic.• Martin, however, continued to practice his old religious ways and was

eventually accused of using witchcraft and was put on trial.• After the trial, he was ordered imprisonment.

Juan de Morga / Gertrudis de Escobar• Both were young slaves in Mexico in the 17th century.• Both worked the unfair and harsh colonial labor system.• While Gertrudis’ parents had predeceased her, she had been sold a slave by

her family. • Juan had been born a slave.• Gertrudis was born in the mid 1600’s and endured many beatings

throughout the years and had attempted escapes.

Isabel Moctezuma

• Was daughter of Moctezuma II who ruled Tenochtitlan.• Lived 1509-1550• Isabel eventually converted to Catholicism.• As an heiress, she gave generously to those in need.• She was connected via marriage to many high ranking

Spaniards.

Beatriz de Padilla• Beatriz was a mixed race woman in the 1600’s in Guadalajara.• Beatriz was accused by royal agent Don Juan Sanchez de Viduarre of the

death of “Diego,” a priest from the village she was from.• She was accused of various acts ranging from poisonings to witchcraft and

was known for treating people poorly.

Miguel Hernandez• Lived 1910-1942.• Was a Spanish poet whose works were inspired by the deaths

of friends and his wife, “Josefina” with whom he had 2 sons.• His resistant movement toward Spain cost him several arrests,

and a jail term of 30 years.• He eventually expired due to TB.• He continued his poetic works in jail and had a great following

of supporters throughout his term.

Enrico Martinez

• Lived in Mexico around 1632, he was a publisher, and an engineer.• He was an ambitious man who wanted to share his knowledge of politics and the

sciences with the world.• His upbringing was not at all conducive for receiving respect from high ranking

officials.• He was even imprisoned for applying his own ideas (water basin). However, problems

occurred with the basin due to lack of funding in order to finish the project properly.

Tula, the Mythical BeginningThe Mexica Founded Tenochtitlan, the Site of Modern Day Mexico City

• Founded in 1325, Tenochtitlan was inhabited by the Mexica people, who for years were in search of a permanent settlement, as they were continuously chased-off of previous lands they had hoped might be a permanent settlement.

• The Mexica people were skilled “hunters & gatherers” and very resourceful.• For many years they kept an isolated existence as they built towns and the operations necessary to

support their people.• Eventually, the lack of raw materials would forced them to establish relations with the outside

world.• The Tenochtitlan emblem: the eagle symbolizes the founding by the Mexica, the prickly pear

symbolizes the heart of sacrificial victims, and the snake symbolizes the idea of evil (as it relates to biting the eagle).

The Empire BuildersObstacles to True Control: Enormous Distances & Rudimentary Means of Communication

• Finally in 1440, Moctezuma I comes in to power, but not without challenges.• One of the many challenges involved the Tenochtitlan troops’ travels through

unforgiving topography.• Caravans had to cover hundreds of miles through vegetation, hostile weather

conditions, and rugged mountains before descending to the Gulf or Pacific.• This proved an even bigger challenge as people were unfamiliar with the horse,

mule or the wheel so consequently everything had to be carried on a human backside.

The Aztecs, Conquering HeroesHuman Sacrifice

• The Aztecs were mainly motivated by their gods and the cosmos and were obsessed with carrying out mass human sacrifices.

• They considered their god mortal with a need to continuously be fed. Feeding this god would ensure adequate rainfall and sun. Without these two things, the world would come to an end.

• The Aztecs also saw sacrifice as an form of government. It maintained an element of terror and also enabled the elimination of certain people that may have proved dangerous or otherwise considered a threat.

The Clash of Two WorldsNightmare Siege of Tenochtitlan Remains Etched in Aztec Memory

• Hernan Cortes caused the fall of the Aztec Empire.• Cortes expanded his troops with thousands of Indians and took control of

Lake Texcoco by constructing a fleet of brigantines and various other tactics.

• Eventually the Spaniards would cut off water and food supplies to the Aztecs.

• Disease also took a toll on the Indians.• The city fell in 1521 and Cortes became the governor in 1522.

From Resistance to CollaborationOn Top of Everything, Epidemics

• Various disease such as typhus and smallpox spread from the time of the siege of Tenochtitlan, causing epidemics from the mid to late 1500’s, and the mid 1600’s and consequently the mortality rates soared.

• The Indians were quick to blame the Spaniards for disrupting their way of life and the cruelty the Spanish was known for.

• Many Indians turned to booze and suicides rose due to the unbearable depletion that their populations were experiencing.

The Aftermath of The ConquestThe West Set Its Traps

• Over time the Indians assimilated to the culture brought by the Spaniards; alcoholism being the primary issue.

• Bars were havens for drunkenness, money squandering, brawls, and prostitution. However, bars also became a place of many races and could be a relaxing alternative for people as it was an escape for some as being “labeled” in society. There was an element of equality.

• Employment among the peoples varied with less appealing work such as forced labor in the mines; to more acceptable work such as craft making, food, and work as a servant.

Manila galleon

• These were ships that would sail a couple of times per year from the Philippines and Mexico. The names of the ships would changed based upon which route they were traveling.

• Trade was the main source of income for Spanish colonists delivering spices, textiles, metals, etc.

• These commodities were acquired from the Asia-Pacific, to be sold the American and European markets.

• Even when Mexico and the Philippines gained independence, the two nations continued to trade (with the exception of a temporary lull during the Spanish-American War) and the ships would sail for the next three centuries bringing economic stability, various goods, and good cultural relations.

Bartolomé de las Casas• Lived 1484-1566 and was a 16th century priest and an author.• Fought for Natives rights as he was a strong opposer of the way in which the Spanish

colonists treated the Native Americans.• He had initially wanted to trade native labor for African slave labor, but eventually

became an advocate for the Africans as well.• He was a good man who encouraged colonists to give up their slaves and envisioned a

society in which natives and Spanish colonists could cohabitate in peace.• He proposed fair wages, proper medical care, and agriculture skills for the natives.• While las Casas made great strides in 1542 with the removal of certain officials from the

Council of the Indies, his actions did not come without criticism.• Threats were made against las Casas’ life as he continued to push for the rights of the

native people. He would eventually be tried for treason.

ConquistadorsÁlvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca

• Was born in 1490 and was a Spanish explorer of the New World.• In 1527 he and many others set out on an expedition to North America.• After many months, the group arrived on the mainland with very few men remaining.• The men began trekking through modern-day Florida, excited at the possibility of gold; but

quickly became lost, starved, wounded, and sick amidst swampy terrain.• In a moment of survival, the men would slaughter and eat their horses, melt down various

supplies to reconstruct items so that they could build a number of boats so that they could search for Mexico.

• They followed the coastline. They were affected by weather systems. Survivors including de Vaca would become enslaved for a few years only to escape finally in search of his original goal which was Mexico.

• It is fair to say that de Vaca was a good man, as his experiences made him more sensitive to the indigenous people. He became known as a faith healer.

• He finally sailed back to Europe in 1537.