Conquistadors
Miss Bonner
Do Now: Picture Analysis- Analyze the painting below in your notebook,
describe what you see happening.
The Conquistadores (conquerors)
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Lured to the new world by rumors of gold.
1519-1521 Hernando Cortes, of Spain, hears that the Aztecs have a wealthy empire in
central Mexico. He conquers Montezuma and his empire with 600 men and with the
help of Aztec enemies from surrounding villages.
1533 Francisco Pizarro, also of Spain, conquered the Incan empire with 200 men.
How did they do it?
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The Spanish had superior weapons including guns and cannons. The Natives had only bows and
arrows.
Disease including measles, mumps, and smallpox, killed hundreds of thousands by the time
Cortes Launched his counter attack. A similar situation occurred with Pizarro and the Incas.
Cortes, with the help of his translator La Malinche, learned that some natives resented the Aztecs
and he convinced the Natives to fight on his side.
The Aztecs may have believed that Cortes was a god, and invited him in to the Aztec capital of
Tenochtitlan.
Mankind Questions for Conquistadors37:11 – 44:11
1.
Cortes was invited into Montezuma’s throne room. What was his
plan?
2.
The Aztecs held a revolt against their captive emperor. Cortes
tried to get Montezuma to stop the revolt. How did that work
out?
3.
4.
5.
More than any other weapon, ______________ helped Cortes
defeat the Aztecs.
Exit Card:
Match the conquistador to his accomplishment
A.
B.
C.
D.
Searched for the
fountain of youth
Conquered the Inca
Conquered the
Aztecs
Explored American
southwest
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