Conquistadors
Cortez and Pizarro
A presentation By:
Catie Coumounduros
Picture from clipart on Microsoft PowerPoint 2003
Standards
• 5.2 Identify the three major pre-Columbian civilizations
that existed in Central and South America (Maya, Aztec,
and Inca) and their locations. Describe their political
structures, religious practices, and use of slaves.
• 5.4 Explain why the Aztec and Inca civilizations declined
in the 16th century.
• A. the encounters between Cortez and Montezuma
• B. the encounters between Pizarro and the Incas
• C. the goals of the Spanish conquistadors
• D. the effects of European diseases, particularly
smallpox, throughout the Western hemisphere
Aztecs
* Central Mexico- Valley of Mexico
*Tenochtitlan is the capital (today
Mexico City)
* They are polytheistic- believed in
many gods
*controlled many other tribes,
forced them to give them money
*used other tribes human sacrifice
*They were brought down by
smallpox A.K.A chicken pox
group3pas.wikispaces.com
Mayas
• On the Mexican Coast
A.K.A Yucatan Peninsula
• More than one major citywas harder for
conquistadors to overthrow
• Regions did not get as
much gold
• Believed in many gods
(polytheistic)
• Owned slaves, sometimes
they could gain freedom
mayancountdown.net
Incas
• In South America, the Andes
Mountains, Peru
• Capital was in Cuzco
• Believed in many gods
(polytheistic)
• There was no written language,
but had spoken language
• Used and practiced animal
sacrifice, and on special occasions
children sacrifice
newworldencyclopedia.org
Cortez
AND THE AZTECS
*A Spanish conquistador
• Traveled with people from Tenochitlan
• Tenochitlan is unusual because it
was built in the middle of a lake on
an island
• Aztecs and Cortez were really
polytheistic and believed in a god
named Quetzalcoatl
• The Aztecs leader was Montezuma
• Tenochitlan today is Mexico City,
they destroyed Tenochitlan
en.wikipedia.org
Pizarro
AND THE INCAS
• A Spanish conquisidor
• 20 million people in Inca civilization covered all through the
Andes Mts. and the west coast of S. America.
• Had a powerful organized government
• They used the medals just as decoration
• Inca’s fought in the civil war, but were easily conquered by
Pizzaro
rediscovermachupicchu.com
Q&A
How did the Spanish explorers and conquistadors
change Central and South America forever? (Where
do we see the lasting effect of these conquistadors
even in 2011?
Today most of Central and South America speaks
Spanish.
Today majority of peoples in Central and South
America are Christian, and no longer worship
their native gods. A lot of Aztec, Maya, and
Inca culture and traditions have disappeared
forever…
THE END
FOR NOW…
Picture from ezilon.com