By John PetroliasBy John PetroliasUS History, 8US History, 8

Basic Information• Born 1485-Medellin, Spain• Castilian Conquistador-Brought

large portions of Mexico under the King of Castile in early 16th century.

Arrival In The New World

• Reached the new world-1504.• Arrived in Hispanola. (Present day

Dominican Republic)• Stayed for 7 years.• 19 years old upon arrival.

Off To Cuba• Cortes took part in the Spanish

conquest of Cuba in 1511.• Cubans accepted him and Cortes

was appointed mayor of Santiago de Cuba.

• Stayed in Cuba until 1518. • Had desires to go to Mexico.

Viva Mexico• Mexico was under the control of the Aztec

Empire- Montezuma II.• Cortes arrived in Mexico w/ 600 men and a

few horses.• Cortes soon learned about the Aztecs; began

searching for Aztec capital-Tenochtitlán. • Along the way, Cortes met Tlaxcalan Indian

tribe; enemies of the Aztecs.• Cortes befriended them; made them allies to

help search for the Aztecs and conquer them.

Hello, Montezuma• In November 1519 Cortes reached

Tenochtitlán; met Montezuma.• The Aztecs thought of Cortes as a god-

king; tried to befriend him.• However, Cortes thought that the Aztecs

were going to harm/betray him and his soldiers.

• They took Montezuma hostage and demanded gold and huge ransom.

Traitors!• The Aztecs drove Cortes and his

soldiers out of the Aztec capital in June, 1520

• However, Cortes regrouped and returned in summer 1521 to capture Tenochtitlán.

Sweet Victory, Yeah!• Cortes began to build Mexico City on

the Aztec ruins, and attracted many Europeans.

• Mexico City soon became the most important city in Central America.

• Cortes grew very popular back in Spain, so he was appointed to governor and captain general of New Spain in 1523.

Next Stop: Honduras• In 1524, Cortes led a troop to claim

land into present-day Honduras and stayed there for about two years.

• By 1528, however, the Spanish Government worried that Cortes was becoming out of control in the Americas.

Return Home• In 1530, Cortes persuaded the king

to send him back to Mexico. • The king agreed, but Cortes was

sent back with less freedom and less power than he had during his first expedition.

Hola, Baja!• In 1536 Cortes explored northwest

Mexico and soon discovered the Baja Peninsula.

• Cortes devoted time to exploring the Pacific Coast of Mexico.

There’s No Place Like Spain

• Cortes returned to Spain in 1539, satisfied with what he had discovered/explored.

• Cortes died near Seville in 1547.

Accomplishments

• Discovery of Hispanola• Discovery of Cuba• Wiping out the Aztec Empire• Building Mexico City• Discovery of the Baja Peninsula• Exploring Pacific coast of Mexico.