Name
Class
Date
As you read, take notes in the interactive graphic organizer on Spanish conquest and
settlement in the Americas.
Spanish Conquest and Settlement
Aztec Empire
Inca Empire
Borderlands–Sourtheast
Borderlands–Sourtheast
Located in present-day Mexico. Ruled by Moctezuma II. Consisted of a
large city called Tenochtitlan that had temples, palace and buildings built
on an island in the center of Lake Texcoco. Hernan Cortes and 508
soldiers, 100 sailors, and 16 horses appeared on a ship. The Aztecs
thought the Spanish were gods, so they welcomed them. Cortes
captured and killed Moctezuma II and destroyed the city. Shipping
slaves, silver and gold back to Spain. Then he turned his attention to the
Inca Empire.
Located along the Pacific Coast of present-day Chile and Ecuador, near
the Andes Mountains. Fransico Pizarro brought fewer than 400 soldiers,
but he used Indian enemies of the Inca Empire and his superior
weapons against the Inca. They captured the Inca capital, Cuzco, at
present-day Peru and killed the Inca leaders. Three-quarters of the Inca
were killed by disease. Pizarro had heard rumors of seven cities of gold
and was in pursuit of the golden cities. He never found the cities, but he
did find slaves, gold and silver to send back to Spain.
Ponce de Leon landed on the island of Puerto Rico. De Leon discovered
Puerto Rico, discovered the coast of present-day Florida (named it La
Florida because it was Easter, the "Season of Flowers"). Ponce tried to
find the fountain of youth, which lead him to landing near present-day
Tampa. Another explorer, Hernando de Soto, led his men through what
is now present-day GA and SC, and discovered the Mississippi River in
1541.De Soto died in 1542 on his journey of exploration, but his crew
continues west until they reach present-day OK.
Spanish also explored present-day SW U.S.. Alvar Nunez Cabeza de
Vaca's expedition started at Florida and followed the Panhandle, then
shipwrecked near present-day Galveston Island, TX. Only 3 men
survived, including an enslaved African, Estevanico, his owner, de Vaca.
They are captured and enslaved by Native Americans for 6 years. They
escaped and headed for a Spanish settlement in Mexico. Along the way
de Vaca was helped by friendly Native Americans. De Vaca felt that
Native Americans should be treated with respect, rather than forced into
slavery and treated cruelly. De Vaca returned to Spain and called for
better treatment of Native Americans, the King agreed with him. He then
wrote about his experiences in the first European book about the
Americas.