Mexico
Lesson 2 B Spanish Conquest
Activating Strategy
Think- What does the term “Spanish
Conquest mean?
Pair- Discuss with your shoulder partner.
Share- Discuss with the class.
Essential Question
How have the Spanish influenced the culture
of Mexico today?
Do Now
Define the following vocabulary:
fiesta
mestizo
Fiesta- a holiday or festival,
especially in Mexico honoring a
saint
mestizo
•
A person of European and American
Indian descent, living in the Spanish
colonies.
The Spanish Conquest

Read pages 156-159 in old textbook
handout.
Cause and Effect

When an event (effect) occurs, you will
always have a cause. You can not have
an event take place without something
causing it.
Example:
Event: Lights suddenly go out in classroom
without Mr. Fisher using the switch.
What are some possible causes for the lights
to go out?
Do Now
Turn to your Cause and Effect Graphic
Organizer in your packet.
Lets think of one cause related to the Fall of
the Aztec Empire together.
Hint: Start at the beginning of the Conquest
and think your way to the end.
1) Hernan Cortes was strategic and had
guns, canons, and horses.
Define 4 other causes with a partner.
Cause and Effect
Fall of the
Aztec
Empire
Causes of the Fall of the Aztec Empire





Hernan Cortes was strategic and had guns,
canons, and horses to help him fight the Aztecs.
Montezuma decided to shower Cortes with gifts
because he thought he was Quetzalcoatl (The
King God).
Hernan Cortes was able to convince other native
tribes to join his side to fight against the Aztecs.
Montezuma allowed Hernan Cortes in the city of
Tenochtitlan
The small pox killed 90% of the Aztec
population. A conquistador brought the disease
over from Spain
The End of the Aztec Empire
1.
2.
3.
4.
Aztec legend stated that a white-skinned
bearded god named Quetzalcoatl sailed away
from Mexico, but promised to return someday
from the east.
Montezuma read omens saying that
Quetzalcoatl was returning to Mexico in 1519
to reclaim his kingdom.
Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes arrived in
Mexico in 1519.
Messengers alerted Montezuma that whiteskinned, bearded men had arrived from the
east.
5. After burning his ships, Cortes led his 503 soldiers to
Tenochtitlan.
6. Believing that Cortes was a god, Montezuma welcomed
Cortes to Tenochtitlan.
7. Cortes and his men put Montezuma in chains to show
that Aztecs that their leader had been captured and that
they should surrender willingly to the Spaniards.
8. The Aztecs lost respect for the chained Montezuma.
They rioted, and Montezuma died. either killed by the
Spaniards or by his own people.
9. The Spaniards took over Tenochtitlan, and the Aztec
Empire ended.
Essential Question
 How
did Spain influence Mexican
Culture?
The Spanish Influence

Read pages 181-182
Changes in Culture due to the
Spanish Influence on Mexico
Place on the back of your EQ page:
I. The new colony is called New Spain.
A. Located on site of Tenochtitlan
II. Language- Spanish Language
III. Religion- Changed to Catholicism
IV. Architecture- represents Spanish colonial
period.
What does this represent?
Mexico’s Social Pyramid
Peninsulares
Born in Spain
Criollos
Spanish descent but born in New Spain (Mexico)
Mestizo
Spanish and Indian Descent
Slaves
Indians
How did the Spanish influence
Mexican Culture?
Get
with a partner and read
pages 181-182.
Complete the Spanish Section
of your Lesson #2 Study Guide.
How did the Spanish influence
Mexican Culture?
The Spanish influenced Mexican culture by
bringing over Spanish language, the
Catholic religion, traditional holidays, guns,
horses, plazas, architecture, and clothing.