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The conquistadors, 1513 to c1528
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Spanish conquistadors pushed beyond the Caribbean. Hernan Cortes, with thousands of local allies, brought down the Aztec Empire.
The start of an empire
In 1513 Balboa crossed Panama and became the first European to see the Pacific from the Americas, claiming it for Spain.
Cuba was conquered from 1511.
Magellan, sailing for Spain from 1519, reached the Philippines, which Spain claimed. He was killed there in 1521, but one ship completed the first voyage round the world in 1522.
Cuba was conquered from 1511.
Magellan, sailing for Spain from 1519, reached the Philippines, which Spain claimed. He was killed there in 1521, but one ship completed the first voyage round the world in 1522.
The conquest of Mexico
In 1519 Hernan Cortes sailed from Cuba with a few hundred men and landed on the Mexican coast.
He made allies of the Tlaxcalans, enemies of the Aztecs. The Aztec ruler Montezuma welcomed him into Tenochtitlan, but Cortes took him hostage.
In 1520 fighting broke out, Montezuma died and the Spanish fled the city with heavy losses.
A smallpox epidemic hit the Aztecs. Cortes returned and besieged Tenochtitlan, which fell in August 1521.
He made allies of the Tlaxcalans, enemies of the Aztecs. The Aztec ruler Montezuma welcomed him into Tenochtitlan, but Cortes took him hostage.
In 1520 fighting broke out, Montezuma died and the Spanish fled the city with heavy losses.
A smallpox epidemic hit the Aztecs. Cortes returned and besieged Tenochtitlan, which fell in August 1521.
Impact
Cortes governed New Spain in the 1520s, rebuilding Tenochtitlan as Mexico City and giving land and labour to his followers.
Aztec society was devastated by war, disease and forced labour, and missionaries began converting people.
Panama, founded in 1519, became a base for exploring the Pacific coast of South America.
Aztec society was devastated by war, disease and forced labour, and missionaries began converting people.
Panama, founded in 1519, became a base for exploring the Pacific coast of South America.
Explain why Cortes was able to conquer the Aztecs.
- He gained tens of thousands of Tlaxcalan allies who hated the Aztecs.
- Smallpox killed many Aztecs, including leaders, in 1520.
- Spanish steel weapons, armour and horses gave an advantage.
- Cortes was bold, for example taking Montezuma hostage.
Answer: Allies, disease, weapons and Cortes's leadership.
Balboa sees the Pacific 1513; Cuba conquered from 1511; Magellan reaches the Philippines (killed 1521). Cortes 1519: Tlaxcalan allies, Montezuma hostage, smallpox, Tenochtitlan falls August 1521. New Spain; Panama as a base.
The interactive lesson includes the diagrams for this topic.
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