Colonization and Spanish
Conquest
Focus: 11-20
 You are a Native American living in central
Mexico. A group of white invaders are involved
in a battle with the nearby Aztecs. You and
other native groups have hated the Aztecs, who
rule the land harshly. However, you are
frightened by these newcomers who ride on
large animals and fire loud weapons. Many of
your friends are joining different sides of the
fight.
 Which side would you fight for?
 What are the risks involved with both sides?
Christopher Columbus and Early
Exploration
 Christopher Columbus began exploration
for Spain in the Atlantic. His original goal
was to find a shorter route to Asia. His
voyages, along with other Spanish
explorers were paid for by the Spanish
monarchs.
Christopher Columbus and Early
Exploration
 Columbus’s three ships, the Nina, Pinta,
and Santa Maria set sail in 1492 and
landed on an island in the Bahamas and
claimed it for Spain. They would
eventually call it San Salvador or “Holy
Savior.”
Spanish Interests
 The Spanish were interested in gold and
land. He and other explorers went on
expeditions to establish colonies or lands
controlled by another nation. Because of
the success of the Spanish, other
European nations wanted colonies
overseas as well.
Other Explorers
 Some other European explorers of the
time were Pedro Alvarez of Portugal,
Amerigo Vespucci of Italy, Vasco de
Balboa and Juan Ponce de Leon who
explored Florida and claimed it for Spain.
Ferdinand Magellan
 Magellan began a voyage to the Pacific
Ocean in 1519. He and his men sailed
around the southern tip of South America
to Guam and the Philippines. Because the
journey was so long (3 years), many of
Magellan’s men died from disease and
starvation. Magellan was killed in battle.
His crew became the first people to
circumnavigate or sail around the world.
Hernan Cortes and the Conquest of
the Aztecs
 Cortes and his men landed in Mexico in
1519 looking to claim lands for Spain. He
brought soldiers called conquistadors
(conquerors) looking for riches. Cortes
and his men traveled inland to the Aztec
capital of Tenochtitlan. Cortes met with
the Aztec leader, Montezuma who thought
Cortes was an iron-clad god.
Cont’d
 The Aztecs agreed to give the Spanish
some gold but it was not enough.
Eventually, the Aztecs attacked the
Spanish, but Cortes counterattacked using
some of the other native tribes against the
Aztecs.
Advantages of the Spanish
 The Spanish had been severely
outnumbered and still defeated the Aztecs.
Some of their advantages included
 1. Superior Weapons
 2. Help of other native tribes who disliked the
Aztecs
3. Disease wiped out thousands of the Aztecs.
Francisco Pizarro and the Incas
 Pizarro and 200 men conquered the Incas
and captured their leader Atahualpa. They
received large amounts of gold and silver
for his release. They took the gifts and still
strangled the Incan leader.
The Success of Spanish
Colonization
 Spain became the wealthiest and most
powerful nation in the world. Ships full of
gold continually sailed to Spain, therefore
they built a powerful navy for protection.
That navy never lost a battle for a century
and a half.
Spain’s Influence
 Conquistadors were accompanied by
priests who wanted to convert natives to
christianity. Priests also spoke out against
the cruel treatment of natives by the
Spanish. The Spanish would not let the
natives practice their rituals. This, along
with mistreatment and slavery caused
many of the natives to resist.
Subliminal Message
 Study
 Study
 Study
 You need to study for your tests