Chapter 17, Lesson 1
Name:
Conquest in the Americas
Date:
Pages 480 – 483
Period:___
Guided Reading
Answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper using complete
sentences. Be sure to add this page to your table of contents.
1.
Why was 1492 so important a year in Spanish history?
The Spanish were finally able to defeat the Moors (Muslims) from the
Iberian peninsula and they were looking to set sail in search of new lands
and sources of wealth.
2.
How did the struggle against the Moors prepare the Spanish for conquest in
the Americas?
The Spanish admired warriors who fought for glory and faith. The
Americas were a place where conquistadors or conquerors could seek
glory for Spain, find fortunes and do all of this in the name of
G-d.
3.
What killed most Native Americans when they came into contact with the
Europeans?
Most Native Americans were killed by diseases like small pox, measles
and influenza.
4.
Who was Hernan Cortes? Who did he conquer and why?
Hernan Cortes was a Spanish conquistador who conquered the Aztec
Empire located in Mexico. He was looking for a wealthy empire that was
rumored to have gold.
5.
What was Tenochtitlan? How was its location an advantage for the
Spanish? Tenochtitlan was the Aztec’s capital city was located on an
island and Cortes was able to block the city and cut off the only way in or
out to prevent the Aztec’s from getting reinforcements. The siege was
surrounding and blockading the city by an army and the battle ended with
Tenochtitlan in ruins.
6.
Why did the Moctezuma first welcome Cortes and his soldiers?
Moctezuma first welcomed Cortes and his soldiers because they feared
that Cortes was a light-skinned god named Quetzalcoatl and Aztec beliefs
said that Quetzalcoatl would return to Mexico some day.
7.
Who was Francisco Pizarro? Who did he conquer and why?
Francisco Pizarro was a Spanish conquistador who conquered the Incan
Empire because he was looking for gold.
8.
What happened to Atahualpa? Atahualpa was the Incan King who went to
visit the Spanish camp where Pizarro kidnapped him and held him for
ransom. The Incan’s paid the ransom but killed Atahualpa anyway.
9.
Which group of Native Americans lived in present-day Mexico? The Aztecs
lived in present-day Mexico.
10.
Which group of Native Americans lived in present-day Peru? The Incans
lived in present-day Peru.