...Hernan Cortes was a Spanish conquistador that caused the fall of the Aztec empire in the 16th century with intentions of seeking land for the Spanish. It’s evident that 3 factors worked to his advantage against the Aztec as he conquered them and there king Montezuma with relative ease in the years of 1519-1521. These are the occupant of indigenous interpreter and allies, the Spanish advanced weapons and armour and the foreign diseases. Those elements assisted Cortes conquer the Aztecs and making major historical events that changed the world. One of the biggest things that assisted Cortes conquer Tenochtitlan would be his occupant of indigenous interpreters and allies. Cortes arrived in Mexico in 1519 without any sort of knowledge of their...
Words: 463 - Pages: 2
...Aztec Vs Spanish (Comparison Essay) The Aztecs and the Spanish were both dominant groups in their region, and both had very long and prosperous civilizations. But when the two groups met up, who would prevail?? It was in 1519 that the clash of the century occurred. Spanish conquistadors led by Hernan Cortes met up with the Aztecs in Tenochtitlan, and ultimately conquered the city and empire, leaving the Aztecs as slaves working their own land to benefit the Spanish Crown. Even though the Spanish obviously seemed much more powerful, the Aztec people actually had many similarities to their conquerors. Firstly, both civilizations relied heavily on religion and made most decisions based on their religious beliefs. Yet there were also many differences in the worldviews of these people. I think that the biggest elements we can compare between the Aztec and Spanish civilizations are how their societies functioned. In many ways, their social hierarchies were similar, but also quite different. Lastly, it is important to take a look at the education received by people in each group, to better understand their societies. First, it is crucial to recognize how these two societies operated, which brings our focus...
Words: 1236 - Pages: 5
...Hernán Cortez and Montezuma were two powerful leaders from the time of conquest in the Americas starting around the 1400s. Hernán Cortez was a landowner in Cuba. He came to the coast of Mexico planning to conquer the Aztecs. As he traveled to the capital of the Aztec empire, Tenochtitlan, he conquered people who were in his way. His army grew as he captured people such as the Native Americans. Montezuma was the leader of the Aztecs and had conquered several city states in order to grow his empire. Under his leadership, the aztecs built the powerful city of Tenochtitlan. These two leaders were alike in the ways that they conquered villages and people but are different when it comes to personal life. Reading about these two leaders gave me the impression that they would do anything to get what they want. To me, it seemed like they did not care if their actions were right or wrong, as long as they were the ones coming out on top. Not only were Cortes and Montezuma alike because they were both leaders, they were also similar in the way that they led their people. Hernan Cortes captured anyone who was in his way when he was trying to get to Tenochtitlan. For example, he captured and befriended some Native Americans. Montezuma...
Words: 417 - Pages: 2
...decimated populations throughout Europe and surrounding areas. During this time, the Malian, French, and Aztec nation states used trade and conquest to survive, while establishing or reviving monarchal rule, with a degree of local government, to remain in political power. One of the nation-states that flourished into an empire long before the Atlantic trade world was...
Words: 836 - Pages: 4
...Identifications: 1. Conquistadors- A conqueror, the 16-century Spanish soldiers who defeated Indian civilizations of Central America. 2. Sapa Inca- the Inca was the powerful emperor and leader of the Inca people, which basically means emperor. 3. Cannibal Law 1503- In 1503 Queen Isabella of Spain, created a law that prohibited the arrest or capture of her new children stating further that, no harm or evil was permitted against their person or possessions. 4. Royal Fifth- An old royal tax that reserves to monarch for metals acquired by subjects as treasure or extracted mining, instituted in Muslim states. III. Specific Identifications: 1. Hernan Cortes- Spanish conquistador, who defeated the Aztecs and conquered Mexico, led an expedition and brought large portions of mainland Mexico. 2. Hernando De Soto- Spanish explorer and conquistador while leading the first European expedition into territory of the modern-day United State. 3. Montezuma II- Last Aztec emperor in Mexico and was overthrown and killed by Hernando Cortés. 4. Francisco Pizarro- who conquered the Inca Empire or what is now called Peru or founded the city of Lima. 5. Ferdinand & Isabel- Known for funding conquistadors to expand their empire overseas or uniting disparate kingdoms into what eventually became modern Spain. They were a religious couple in a since it took them 10 years to conquered the last Muslim stronghold to convert their land under...
Words: 601 - Pages: 3
...Cortez was the Spanish conquistador who conquered the Aztec empire in Mexico for Spain. He came from a famous family and his father was a captain in the Spanish army. His parents wanted him to become a lawyer and sent him to school to study law when he was fourteen. Cortez did not want to become a lawyer and came back home when he was sixteen. Cortez heard about the discoveries of Christopher Columbus in the new world and he also wanted to travel and see new lands. In 1511, Cortez joined Diego Velazquez on an expedition to Cuba and became a powerful and wealthy person on the island of Cuba. Cortez had wanted to go to Mexico for many years and in 1518, he was finally put in charge of an expedition to Mexico. Cortez heard of the gold and treasures of the Aztec empire. He had 11 ships, 500 men, horses, and cannon. He also had the help of a native woman named Dona Marina. He wanted to conquer the Aztec empire and take their treasure for Spain....
Words: 563 - Pages: 3
...THE FALL OF THE AZTECS The Aztec Empire was the most powerful empire in Central America until now in.A spanish ship is close and they would soon attack the Aztecs with,superior weapons and new animals,the spaniards had the fall of the Aztec Empire with them.Hernan Cortez is the leader of the spanish.He was the one who really conquered the Aztecs with his strategies and wanting for it,even though he had the help by the weapons,and new animals Another thing that helped Cortes conquer the Aztec was the beliefs and culture the Aztecs had The Aztecs had their beliefs,traditions,religions,and culture their capital was Tenochtitlan which was a little island in Mexico.They had a new leader,Montezuma,and it will be the last because the Spanish were close.When Cortez got their he was determine to conquer this new land filled with gold,he started conquer the cost villages. In that time he realized that the Aztecs were afraid of the horses and dogs so he used them as a very important part on conquering them.Also with the fire weapons just as guns,muskets,and cannons,he made the indians psychology scared of him so that they will lose in their minds when ....
Words: 525 - Pages: 3
...The Inca, Maya, and Aztec all lived around the same place, Mesoamerica or Middle America. Meso-america Includes Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. All 3 tribes have harsh punishments, have very unique lifestyles, and many other similarities and differences. This essay will be about the similarities and differences of all 3 tribes. The differences are their treatment of humans, and the similarities are their Religion. The inca, aztec, and maya based everything on religion. The food they ate, the clothes they wore, how they celebrated, and even how they raised their children was all guided by what they believed in. All three tribes had similar beliefs, they all believed in many gods (Polytheism). They did not only have believe in 1 god, they believed in multiple gods. They all felt that human sacrifice was the best way to appease the god if something happened, If something happened at a festival or someone broke the rules, they would sacrifice random people or sacrifice the people who did the crime. A sacrifice was never about the blood, or the organs, it was always about the gods or the sacrifice, they never wanted to kill the people, but they needed to appease the gods. They all had gods of weather, They had the sun god, moon god, rain god, and many other gods. Those are the similarities between the 3 tribes...
Words: 649 - Pages: 3
...In the fifteenth century there were two distinct empires, the Aztecs and Incas. Both empires were often grouped together as early pre – European civilizations in the Americas. Although both empires shared some similarities, there were significant differences between the two empires. These similarities and differences are found by looking at the political systems used, the methods of rule and socialization, and religion. The Aztecs and Incas shared some common aspects. Both empires exhibited an agricultural based economy controlled by a ruling elite as a whole. The Aztecs are ruled by a supreme ruler who has supreme power over everybody. The Aztecs did not rule directly over their empire, but indirectly through hegemony. It would conquer a city-state, but then reestablish the local ruler, only interfering with his governing when they did not pay their tribute to the Aztecs. While the Incas are ruled by a supreme ruler called the Inca and he was considered a deity descended from the sun who in theory owned everything, the Inca lived and ruled his people from the major temple, Cuzco. As stated in everyone, “...were all ordered to worship the sun as God...” (Pg. 598). The empires ruled for approximately one hundred years until both were conquered by the Spanish. Distinct patterns emerges within each civilizations by theses given similarities. Politically, the Incas is a highly centralized empire where every decisions come from the Inca, himself. For example, “[The Inca] appointed...
Words: 761 - Pages: 4
...given, Malintzin. Later Tenepal, which means “one who speaks much and with liveliness” was added to her name. Most of the details we have of her life come from two letters Hernan Cortez wrote to the King of Spain and the writings of Bernal Diaz del Castillo, a soldier who was with Cortez. Bernal Diaz wrote eye-witness stories from his time with Cortez and Malinche, in Historia Verdadera de la Conquista de la Nueva España, however, many years later, in his old age. Malintzin may have been afforded some privileges and education because of her status by birth. Unfortunately, for Malintzin her father died, her mother remarried and had a son; in order to pass Malintzin’s inheritance to her husband and son; her mother either sold or gave her to Mayan traders. Her death was faked by showing the townspeople the body of a dead child who had belonged to a slave. There is no way to possibly know how she was treated while being a slave. I believe she may have been useful to the Mayan traders because of her ability to learn languages. Being quite beautiful and intelligent she was given as tribute to Cortez in 1519 upon the defeat of the Cacique of Tabasco Mayans; she was among 20 young women. Malintzin then became a gift from Cortez to Alonzo Hernando Puertocarrero, a well born member of his expedition. When Puertocarrero went back to Spain, Cortez took her for himself. Besides her native tongue of Nahuatl, the common language of the Aztecs, she also learned several dialects of the Mayan languages...
Words: 719 - Pages: 3
...The story of the conquest of the Aztec Empire by a small band of Spanish conquistadors and their Indian allies is one of the most famous episodes from history. It is well known not only for its historical significance, but also for its outrageous and hair-raising feats of derring-do. Hernando Cortez, acting essentially on his own, with an army of only about 500 men overthrew the wealthiest, most sophisticated, and most powerful empire on the American continent. The Aztecs were not a passive, peace-loving people. They had enormous armies of experienced warriors and dominated the tribes and territories for hundreds of miles around. Their cities were large, complex and strongly fortified, and their civilization was prosperous and sophisticated. The Spaniards won a victory over the Aztecs against almost insurmountable odds through a combination of diplomacy, treachery, ferocious combat and good luck. So great was the conquistadors love of gold and glory that they stood firm in nearly impossible circumstances and their sheer audacity won the day. Cortez was unquestionably brutal and merciless at times, but on the whole, he was an exceedingly skilled tactician and a charismatic leader of men. He accomplished a great deal by diplomacy and treated his Indian allies fairly. He had several Indian children whom he acknowledged and provided for, and won the respect of many native leaders. If his plans had not gone awry he might have conquered the Aztec empire with little bloodshed, and...
Words: 2009 - Pages: 9
...left a trail of destruction by attacking native villages and killed or captured the inhabitant since they preferred seeking gold and slaves to creating permanent settlements. In 1519, some Spanish soldiers landed on the coast of Mexico. Three years later, these Spanish soldier conquered Aztec empire. The three factors of Spanish victory were technological advantages, division within the Aztec empire, and disease. Later, some other Spanish soldiers conquered a richer empire, Inca empire. By 1550, Spain’s New World empire, which stretched from the Caribbean through Mexico to Peru, was administered from Spain by the Council of the Indies. The council enacted laws for the empire and supervised an elaborate bureaucracy to maintain political control and extract wealth from the land and its people. Then, two expedition went to north America to find gold and silver but they did not find any gold and silver. So Spain stopped to extend its empire and just maintained two precarious footholds in north of Mexico. By a large number of gold and silver flowing into Spain, it became the richest and most powerful state in Europe. However, these American treasure undermined Spanish predominance. Many leading merchants who refused to become Christian was expelled from Spain. The remaining Christian merchants, awash in American riches, had no desire of trading. Consequently, Spain’s economy eventually stagnated. French began to pay much attention to America after news of Cortés s exploits. King...
Words: 1532 - Pages: 7
...Spanish Defeat of The Aztecs I believe that the three essential factors in the Spanish defeat of the Aztecs were disease, alliances, and Dona Marina. Without the help of these factors, the Spanish could not have killed the Aztecs. When Moctezuma and Cortes met on the causeways, Moctezuma treated Cortes as the god Quetzalcoatl. He allowed the Spanish into Tenochtitlan. He had no idea that the plan was to assimilate the Aztecs and take their civilization. Cortes forced a girl named Dona Marina to be his translator. She is also known as La Malinche because she 'betrayed' the Aztecs. She would help him communicate and negotiate with the Aztecs. But sometimes Dona would do more than translate their conversations. She would tell Cortes...
Words: 550 - Pages: 3
...In the years between 1519 and 1540, conquistadores invaded the Americas and ruined the lives of many, if not all, Native Americans who lived in the New World during that time period. According to “Makers of America: The Spanish Conquistadores”, a conquistador is someone from Spain who traveled to the New World in search of God, gold, and glory (18-19). The name conquistadores translates into “conquerors” in Spanish. The conquistadores claimed all the land from Colorado to Argentina in only a mere fifty years after Columbus’s discovery of the New World (Makers of America: The Spanish Conquistadores 18-19). Although others may argue that conquistadores should be named heroes for exploring the New World, it is important to remember that conquistadores...
Words: 733 - Pages: 3
...130 Individual Research Paper The Aztecs and the role of Human Sacrifice The Aztec was a culture that dominated the Valley of Mexico in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. All the Nahua-speaking peoples in the Valley of Mexico were Aztecs, while the culture that dominated the area was Tenochca. At the time of the European conquest, they called themselves either "Tenochca" or "Toltec," which was the name assumed by the bearers of the Classic Mesoamerican culture, stated in Manuel Aguilar-Moreno’s book, Handbook to Life in the Aztec World. Sadly, many of the Aztec didn't survive after the arrival of the Europeans. But during the earlier years, the Aztec became one of the most advanced civilizations because of their religion, war, and agriculture. The Aztecs gained an infamous reputation for their bloodthirsty human sacrifices with explicit tales of the beating heart being ripped from the still-conscious victims, decapitation, skinning and dismemberment. All of these things did happen but it is important to remember that for the Aztecs the act of sacrifice was a strictly ritualized process that gave the highest possible honor to the gods and was regarded as a necessity to ensure mankind’s continued prosperity. The Aztecs were not the first civilization in Mesoamerica to practice human sacrifice; human sacrifice was practiced to some extent by many peoples in Mesoamerica and around the world for many centuries. But it was the Aztec empire that really took the ritual to...
Words: 4995 - Pages: 20
