Spanish Conquistadors
and Colonies
Spanish empire by
the 1600’s
consisted of the



part of North
America
Central America
Caribbean Islands

Much of South
America.
Treasures
from the Americas!
Cycle of Conquest &
Colonization
Explorers
European
Colonial
Empire
Permanent
Settlers
First Spanish Conquests: The Aztecs
Cortes conquered Aztec Empire in 1519
and took control of modern day Mexico.
vs.
Hernando Cortés
Montezuma II
Cortes conquers Aztec
Empire in 1519
• Cortes found natives who were hostile
to the Aztecs- they join forces
• Residents of Tenochtitlan believed
him to be the white-skinned god
Quetzalcoatlin
• Aztec emperor Moctezuma
welcomed him warmly and
showered him with gifts
Things change with Moctezuma
• Good relationship
with Moctezuma did
not last long
• Cortes captured and
jailed the Aztec
emperor
• Spanish troops
massacred Aztecs
during a religious
ceremony
• The Aztecs revolted
Defeat
• Cortes and his troops were pushed back
for a period of time
• They returned to Tenochtitlan in 1521
• Spanish troops set up a blockade to deny
food and water to the Aztecs
• Smallpox had also weakened the Aztecs
• Cortes defeated the natives and
destroyed the city
First Spanish Conquests: The Incas
Pizarro conquered Incan Empire in modern day Peru in 1532
vs.
Francisco Pizarro
Atahualpa
FRANCISCO PIZARRO CONQUERS THE
INCA (1532)
•Gained Native American allies
•Captured Altahualpa (Inca
Emperor) after slaughtering
thousands of his followers
•Spanish demanded a huge
ransom for the ruler
•Incas paid it in gold, but
Altahualpa was killed anyway
•Despite resistance, Spanish gained
control of much of South America
including Peru, Ecuador & Chile
This poem was written by an unknown
Aztec in 1523
“And all this happened to us
We saw it all,
We were amazed
With this sad and tragic fortune,.
We see ourselves anguished,
Broken spears lie in the road;
We have torn out our hair in grief.
The houses are roofless flow, and
their walls are red with blood”
The Conquistadors
I.
Advantages for the Aztecs/Incas
1. Familiarity with geography.
2. Greater food supply.
3. Larger number of soldiers.
4. Rely on citizens  produce food, train soldiers, make weapons
II. Advantages for Spain
1. Superior technology & equipment
A. Horses, guns & armor.
2. Alliances with conquered peoples
A. Had a common enemy.
B. Helped fight with the Spanish.
3. Disease  smallpox brought to South America.
III. Hernando Cortes
1. Conquered the Aztecs – 1519
2. Moctezuma  Aztec leader who was killed.
3. Motives  religion & wealth
IV. Francisco Pizarro
1. Conquered the Incas – 1532
2. Captured Incan Emperor Athualpa.
A. Incas collapsed with no strong leader.
3. Spain takes Inca gold.
What was the
Columbian Exchange?
Explorers created contact between
Europe and the Americas.
Interaction with Natives created
led to big cultural changes
Exchange of physical elements:
Plants
Animals
Disease
Columbian Exchange or the transfer of goods
involved 3 continents, Americas, Europe and Africa
* Squash
* Cashew
* Cocoa
* Peanut
* Avocado
* Pumpkin
* Pineapple
* Tomato
* Peppers
* Tobacco
* Beans
* Vanilla
* Olives
* Coffee Beans * Banana
* Onion
* Turnip
* Honeybee
* Grape s
* Peach
* Sugar Cane
* Citrus Fruits * Pear
* Wheat
* Cattle
* Sheep
* Pig
* Flu
* Typhus
* Measles
* Diptheria
* Whooping Cough
* Sweet Potatoes * Turkey
* Quinine
* Guinea Pig
* POTATO
* Lamas
* MAIZE
* Syphilis
* Rice
* Barley
* Oats
* HORSE
* Smallpox
* Malaria
Conquistador Recap
Who were the conquistadors?
What did they do?
When did they live?
Where did they conquer?
Why did they conquer?