The aztecs were lead by a superstitious, impressionable and weak leader in the person of moctezuma. Between 1519 and 1521, spanish conquistadors, led by hernan cortes, overthrew the aztec empire. Today we call them the aztecs, and they have a fearsome reputation in our minds. They hated the aztecs because they had raided their cities for people to sacrifice to their gods. This 18thcentury oil painting, part of the conquest of mexico. There is one final piece, or rather person, to this puzzle. Some of the conquered provinces of the aztec empire rebelled because of repressive rule. In 1519 cortes led about 450 men to mexico and made his way from veracruz on the gulf coast to the island city of tenochtitlan, the stunningly beautiful aztec. What was the effect of the spanish on the aztec empire. Tenochtitlan, battle ofconquest of the aztec capital of tenochtitlan by hernan. Conquered people had to pay tributes to the aztec emperor. Jan 10, 2020 during the retreat, the spanish lost much of the treasure that was taken from montezuma and his people in the water, including the gold bar. The main foods in the aztec diet were maize, beans, and squash.
However, they did not have sugar, so their chocolate was a strong liquid with chili in it. Jan 25, 2016 after establishing a colony in mexico, spanish nobleman hernan cortes. In 1521, spanish explorers such as hernan cortes conquered the aztec capital of tenochtitlan and made observations of and wrote reports about the practice of human sacrifice. Cortes, with 508 spaniards, did not fight alone but with as many as 150,000 or 200,000 allies from tlaxcala, and eventually other aztec tributary states. The conquered regions paid tribute to the emperor and the aztec citizenry paid taxes with the exception of priests, nobles, minors, orphans, invalids, and beggars. For more on the conquest of mexico by spain, see also spanish conquest of mexico, siege of tenochtitlan, and hernan cortes. Study 25 terms aztec civilization flashcards quizlet. Michael e smith the aztecs matthew restall seven myths of the spanish conquest bernal diaz del castillo bernal diaz del castillo. Aztec capital falls to cortes after a threemonth siege, spanish forces under hernan cortes capture tenochtitlan, the capital of the aztec empire. The deadliest disease in history helped conquer the aztecs. This germ warfare profoundly impacted on the new world as a whole, as indigenous populations, lacking any natural resistance, were devastated by european diseases. They did, however, let the conquered tribes continue to live on their own but these conquered tribes had to follow aztec law.
This article is part of our larger resource on aztec civilization. Of course, cortes himself was a conqueror, but his people were not controlled and forced as the aztecs were. Aztec commercial and tax law exhibit aztec and maya law. Aztec history was told by those who conquered themuntil. But when you say never conquered, what are you think of as the alternative. Youre ordered to give moctezuma ii one third of all your crops. This practice was most similar to which of the following. Nov 24, 2014 the aztec empire in modernday mexico was conquered by hernan cortes and his spanish soldiers, who were called conquistadores. During the reign of moctezuma, the empire continued its growth, but it was during this period the spaniards.
The spanish conquest of the aztec empire was devastating to the aztec people. Under the leadership of hernan cortes in 1521, the aztec empire was destroyed. The spaniards, whose conquest of the aztecs began 500 years ago this year, in 1519, told us most of what we think. Pizarro arrived to peru just after a civil war between to sons of a died inca. The conquest of tenochtitlan and the subsequent consolidation of spanish domination over the former aztec empire was the first major possession in what became the spanish empire. Many of the aztec people looked upon the spaniards with curiosity. It was one of the most important events in the spanish colonization of the americas. Asked in aztecs how was the aztec civilization conquered. The aztec empire was a native american state that ruled much of current day mexico, from 1428 to 1521. The main sources of income for the empire were tribute and taxation. The eight omens of the aztecs have been analyzed by historians and these signs provide us with an important aspect of how the aztecs understood the world and thought about the future. The conquered peoples resented the aztec demands for tribute and victims for the religious sacrifices, but the aztec military kept rebellion at bay. Henan cortes led the small group of wellarmed spanish soldiers that defeated an empire with tens of thousand of soldiers. Nov 08, 2018 a strong system of laws governed the economic operations of the aztec empire.
By then america wasnt even discovered, but a few decades later he would be the one to conquer one of the most powerful empires in the new continent. Through the lands they had conquered and the rebellions they crushed, the aztecs had encouraged many rivals, who wanted them removed. For a comprehensive overview of the aztec empire, including its military, religion, and agriculture, click here. Cortes defeated narvez and enlisted narvez army into his own. Aztecs simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Whole swaths of the americas rapidly fell to the spanish crown, a transformation begun by the ruthless conqueror of the aztec empire, herna.
This conquest would prove cortes to be both fearless and ambitious. The aztec language, nahuatl, was the dominant language in central mexico by the mid50s. Bernal diaz del castillo, who participated in the cortes expedition, made frequent mention of human sacrifice in his memoir true history of the conquest of new spain. Conquest of the aztec empire the spanish conquest of the aztec empire is not only one of the most significant events in the early exploration and conquest of the americas, but also one of the most significant events in world history. After columbus discovered the new world, the spanish sent conquistadors across the atlantic to claim land for spain. Spanish conquest of the aztec empire facts for kids. Did the 8 omens of the aztecs foretell the end of their. Lessons to be learned from the aztec people, conquered by. Aztec tribute demands made conquered cities more willing to help the spanish. The aztecs were aware of the spanish before hernan cortes arrival in 1519. The aztecs included conquered people in their empire, the conquistadors destroyed the societies they conquered. Aztec markets sold fruit, vegetables, spices, flowers, dogs, birds, and cocoa beans. In february of that year, cortez and approximately five hundred soldiers arrived on the mexican coast.
The aztec empire a powerful civilization that ruled much of what is today mexico and central america was conquered by invading forces from the. However, in the process of pursuing the glory which he sought, he demonstrated that he was willing to deceive, manipulate, and betray to bring his dreams of power, wealth, and prestige to fruition. From 15181521, spanish conquistador hernan cortes and his army brought down the mighty aztec empire, the greatest the new world had. The spanish conquest of the aztec empire, also known as the conquest of mexico or the spanishmexican war 151921, was one of the primary events in the. Hernan cortes conquers the aztec empire national geographic. He conquered some cities along the way and made alliances with others. The aztec empire, was more like a collection of states dominated by the aztecs. Spanish conquer the aztecs and incas the colonists journal. Spanish conquistadores commanded by hernan cortes allied with local tribes to conquer the aztec capital city of tenochtitlan. People who survived the invasion either went to slavery or were killed by.
The aztecs were a primitive people who practiced rituals that. When his small fleet landed, he ordered his ships scuttled. Between 1519 and 1521 the spanish, under the leadership of conquistador hernan cortes, conquered the aztec empire. They returned in 1521 and conquered tenochtitlan, razing the city to the ground and destroying the aztec empire in the process. Conquest of the aztec empire history crunch history. Furthermore, the conquered people had to send soldiers to serve the aztec emperor when they were needed. In our previous animated historical documentary we have covered the rise of the aztecs.
The empire continued to expand from 1430 ce and the aztec military bolstered by conscription of all adult males, men supplied from allied and conquered states, and such elite groups as the eagle and jaguar warriors swept aside their rivals. The allies of the spanish who helped defeat the aztec empire. This conquest was due, in part, to differences in technology and experience. Battle of tenochtitlan, may 22august, 1521, military engagement between the aztecs and a coalition of spanish and indigenous combatants. His ally in this fight was the european germs he and his men unwittingly brought with them. By bringing the aztec empire under the rule of spain. During the time, tenochtitlan, the capital of the aztec empire, was the area first captured. Dec 18, 2018 the aztec outnumbered the spanish, but that didnt stop herna. Expanding the empire through further conquests strengthened the empire and.
He then conquered huastec territory under a pretext of securing aztec merchants in that area, and then he went to war against the mixtecs of coixtlahuaca. He was taken prisoner and killed during battle with the spanish army. The conquistadors had brought with them smallpox which killed huge numbers of aztec warriors. Hernan cortes conquered the aztec empire in 1521 a. The spanish conquest of the aztec empire, also known as the conquest of mexico or the spanishmexican war 151921, was one of the primary events in the spanish colonization of the americas. Cortes helped old enemies of the aztecs defeat them in one of the most important events in the spanish colonization of the americas. Spanish conquest of the aztec empire military wiki fandom. In the pages of the american history, it was the spanish conquest of the aztec force that was considered a significant beginning of the process of the spanish empire taking over the supposedly free people of america in the 1500s. Numerous nahuatl words borrowed by the spanish were later absorbed into english as well, including chile. The aztecs conquered the citystates surrounding tenochtitlan and their own citystates and demanded tribute and persons to use as human sacrifices. Aztec civilization brainpop quiz flashcards quizlet. While the aztec economy depended on trade, tribute and agriculture, the real business of the empire was war. How did the aztecs and conquistadors differ in their treatment of conquered people. Test shows aztec gold bar was lost by fleeing conquistadors.
Both the aztecs and the spaniards were expansionist and imperialist peoples, but the aztecs used a tribute system while the spaniards used colonialism. Through war, the aztec empire gained tribute from conquered enemies. Important events in the conquest of the aztec empire. The aztec s enabled the conquest of their own empire. Itzcoatls successor montezuma moctezuma i, who took power in 1440, was a great warrior who was remembered as the father of the aztec empire. Hernan cortes was a spanish conquistador, or conqueror, best remembered for conquering the aztec empire in 1521 and claiming mexico for spain. From 15181521, spanish conquistador hernan cortes and his army brought down the mighty aztec empire, the greatest the new world had ever seen. Historians often disagree on the impact, both positive and negative, that the spanish had on aztec civilization. Cortes, with new troops from cuba, along with the aid of thousands of indian allies, finally conquered the aztec in 1521. The more land a ruler conquered, the more powerful he became. Learn more about what led him to destroy one of the greatest.
How conquistadores were able to conquer aztec empire. After the conquest of mexico, he and malinche, an aztec woman who served as his interpreter, had a son together. Spanish conquest of the aztec empire simple english. As the chronicler diego duran put it, the aztecs were masters of the world, their empire so wide and abundant that they had conquered all the. What are the similarities and differences between the. To be honest they were doomed at the moment gold was discovered in their empire. Meanwhile the aztecs built up the island in the lake by driving wooden stakes into the bed of the lake then laying earth and rocks. Cortes began to march inland towards the city of tenochtitlan, the capital city of the aztec empire. The aztecs formed the triple alliance with the citystates of texcoco and tlacopan. By jessie szalay live science contributor 29 september 2017.
Historians often disagree on the impact, both positive and negative, that the spanish had on. The following year cortes and his indigenous allies returned and conquered the aztec city in an orgy of bloodshed. What the textbooks have to say about the conquest of mexico. Cortess conquest has been depicted in numerous television documentaries. At that time the great empire of the mexicanow known as the aztecs.
He also helped colonize cuba and became a governor of new spain. When he returned to tenochtitlan in june, he found the garrison under siege from the aztecs, who. There are multiple 16thcentury narratives of the events by spanish conquerors, their indigenous allies, and the defeated aztecs. Most historians agree some of the omens appear to be related to the spanish conquest of the aztec empire in 1521 that led to the end of this ancient mexican. He did it through a combination of luck, courage, political savvy and advanced tactics and weapons. When it was captured, the aztec captial, tenochitian, was one of the largest and most advanced in the world.
It was the spaniards under hernando cortes who conquered the aztecs. Fast facts rallied native allies and conquered the aztec empire. Human sacrifice was an important part of aztec history and society. Without these warriors the aztecs were unable to fight off cortez, who with the help of the surrounding indians, who hated the aztec rulers, cortes was able to conquer mexico and the aztecs. What were the most important factors in explaining the. Both conquistadors recognized and utilized the political crisis of the empires. Cortez was able to defeat the aztecs for many reasons. Spanish conquest of the aztecs 3 minute history youtube.
In the early 1500s, spanish forces sailed across the pacific and conquered the aztec and incan civilizations, even though the invading armies were greatly outnumbered by the indigenous population. However, to understand the aztec empire, its first important to understand their early history and how they came to be. People captured during war became slaves or sacrifices in the aztecs religious ceremonies. The spaniard who conquered the aztecs was hernando blank.
The spaniards caught the aztecs off guard and immediately slaughtered many warriors, but the aztecs quickly revolted against the invaders and killed 53 spanish prisoners for sacrifice. The aztec overlords actually sacrificed many of the outlying tribes people in ceremonies in the capital. How smallpox devastated the aztecs and helped spain. During the late fifteenth century, the spanish began to occupy the caribbean, and in 1519, with relatively few resources, invaded present day mexico and conquered one of the most warlike civilizations in the americas. This event is called the spanish conquest of the aztec empire. The conquest of the aztec empire by the spanish force in.
A jaguar, a fierce, brave hunter in ancient mexico was the symbol of the aztec elite warriors, the jaguars as a jaguar was the largest beast of prey. Oct 11, 2018 osprey men at arms 239 aztec, mixtec, and zapotec armies michael e smith the aztecs matthew restall seven myths of the spanish conquest bernal diaz del castillo bernal diaz del castillo. Aug 17, 2019 you phrase the question as if there were only one alternative. People captured during war became slaves or sacrifices in the aztec s religious ceremonies. Hernan cortes invaded mexico in 1519 and conquered the aztec empire. He allowed the spanish to enter into tenochtitlan and obse. The aztecs, who referred to themselves as the mexica, extended throughout much of central mexico and existed from the 14th century until the 16th century when they were conquered by spanish conquistadors led by hernan cortes. Youre the chief of a small tribe that has just been absorbed into the aztec empire.
Oct 27, 2019 from 15181521, spanish conquistador hernan cortes and his army brought down the mighty aztec empire, the greatest the new world had ever seen. What would happen if hernan cortez never conquered the aztecs. In 1790 some of the major aztec monumental stone sculptures. The effect the spanish had on the aztec empire is a mixed lot. 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. He had heard about the powerful aztecs who ruled much of mexico and he went in search of them. The aztecs were conquered by spain in 1521 after a long siege of the capital, tenochtitlan, where much of the population died from hunger and smallpox.
Hernan cortes conquers the aztec empire history magazine. Construction work in mexico city, built over the ruins of the mexican capital tenochtitlan, has turned up many important finds. From 15181521, spanish conquistador hernan cortes and his armybrought down the mighty aztec empire, the greatest the new world had ever seen. The aztecs demanded regular tributes of their conquered subjects, and often. After establishing a colony in mexico, spanish nobleman hernan cortes. Coixtlahuaca was successfully conquered although the mixtec ruler atonal received military assistance from the nahua states of tlaxcala and huexotzinco, by now enemies of the aztecs. Details the battle between the mexica and spanish in 1519. Which country conquered the aztec and inca answers. It was a cult and shamanic animal figure associated with sacrificial ceremonies and offerings to the jaguar god and the aztec god of warriors. The spanish conquest was devastating to the aztec people.
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