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Why did the Aztecs not attack
the Spanish? Spanish had arrived with 1000’s of auxilliaries
Aztec culture was very superstitious and fatalistic
Cortez/Quetzalcoatl accounts: Are post conquest and written by Spanish:
The Aztec believed that the Cortez/Spanish were the returning god/king Quetzalcoatl
It had been prophesized that Quetzalcoatl would return during the time period of Spanish arrival
Over the next few weeks, Cortez/Spanish are given a tour of the city as Motecuhzoma’s guests
Royal zoo,viary, Tlaltelolcomarket
New foods: Xocolatl, tortillas , chilli, tobacco
Temple district/ Templo mayor
Spanish are shocked by blood sacrifices
Tzompatli “Skull rack” Spanish estover 36,000 skulls
Spanish in Tenochtitlan
Motecuhzoma arrested
As tensions rise, revolt begins-
Motecuhzoma is placed under house
arrest
Cortez demands:
gods within the Templo Mayor be taken
down (catholic virgin/cross put in its place)
ALL sacrifices stopped
Revolt begins
The 2nd expedition- Narvaez May 1520- 2nd Mexican expedition sent
by Gov Velazquez arrives to arrest Cortez
Led by Panfilo de Narvaez
As Cortez hears this, he leaves Pedro de Alvarado in charge and heads to Cempoala with 250 men.
Defeats Narvaez and convinces the expedition to join him in Tenochtitlan.
The Toxcatl Massacre
As Cortez fights
Narvaez, Pedro
de Alvarado
massacres
thousands at
“Toxcatl” (May)
festival.
When Cortez
enters the city,
is abandoned
and in revolt.
The Death of Motecuhzoma Cuitlahuac (Motechuzoma’s brother) is
elected the new emperor
There are two account of Motecuzohmas
death:
Spanish say that while calming the crowds he is
hit with a stone projectile and mortally wounded
Indian say Cortes had him garroted.
His body is later found in the Lake Texcoco.
“La Noche Triste” Cortez and allies are surrounded
Spanish soldiers are sacrificed at the Templo Mayor
June 30/July 1 1520- Spanish/allies retreat
Led by Cuitlahuac the Spanish are caught by surprise on the Tacuba causeway
Cortez looses 2/3 of his men
Cortez retreats to Cempoala.
Small pox
One of Narvaez’s slaves had smallpox
and introduced it to the Indian
populations.
The Aztecs had no immunity to
the European disease and it
spread quickly
Thousands die from the disease.
The new emperor, Cuitlahuac
who has defeated the Spanish,
dies only after a few months of
rule. Cuahtemoc, (cousin)
becomes the new emperor.
The Fall of Tenochtitlan 5 months later, Cortez rebuilds his
forces and marches on the city on Dec 26, 1520
Supported by thousands the city is surrounded. All bridges and the aqueduct are destroyed.
After 8 months the last Aztec Emperor Cuauhtemoc surrenders on Aug 13, 1521
The Aztec were the last in a long line of warrior
civilizations that flourished in Mesoamerica.
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