Spanish Colonization

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The Fall of the Aztec EmpireIn 1519, Hernan Cortes landed on the eastern coast of Mexico. Cortes commandeda force of around 500 conquistadors. In order to defeat the enormous and powerfulAztec empire, Cortes befriended an enemy tribe of the Aztec, known as the Tlaxcala.Cortes and the Tlaxcala headed for Tenochtltlan, the city at the heart of the AztecEmpire. Montezuma /I was the ruler of the Aztec Empire at the time of Cortes's arrival.Montezuma pelieved Cortes to be a god and welcomed him into the city.

Tenochtitlan was full of gold. Cortes was afraid thathis small Spanish force would be attacked, so he tookMontezuma hostage and demanded gold and treasuresin exchange for his safe return. Montezuma was forcedto swear allegiance to the crown of Spain. Cortes andhis soldiers began looting the city. They melted downanything made of gold and sent the gold back to Spain.Cortes and his small army spent about six months inTenochtitlan, stripping the city of its wealth.

While Cortes was away from Tenochtitlan, a Spanishofficer by the name of Pedro de Alvarado interrupted areligious ceremony and massacred 200 Aztec nobleswho had gathered for the ritual. When Cortes returned, Hernan Cortes (1485-1547)the Aztec were rebelling. The Spaniards were chased outof the city and into the surrounding canals. Three-fourths of the fleeing Spaniards weredrowned as they struggled through the wetlands, their pockets heavy with stolen gold.Furthermore, Montezuma died a few days after being attacked by the Aztec, who wereupset that he had given in to the Spanish.

In 1521, Cortes returned to Tenochtitlan with guns and steel. After three months ofbattle, the new Aztec ruler, Cueubtemoc, surrendered to the Spanish. Epidemics ofsmallpox killed about a third of the remaining Aztec population. The Spanish conqueredthe rest. Present-day Mexico City stands on top of the ruins of Tenochtitlan.

The Fall of the Incan EmpireIn 1532, Francisco Pizarro landed on the coast of Peru with about 180 Spanishconquistadors. Pizarro invited Atahualpa, the Inca emperor, to a feast. When Atahualpaarrived, Pizarro ambushed and captured him. Atahualpa offered a room filled with goldin exchange for freedom. Pizarro took the gold and killed Atahualpa.

38 Duplicating any part of this book is prohibited by law.

Over the next few years, the Spanish gained controlover Inca territory. Pizarro made Manco Capac theemperor of the Inca, and put him on the throne in theInca city of Cuzco. While the Spaniards disagreedover how to divide the great wealth of the Inca Empire,Manco Capac planned his escape. He started a revoltagainst the Spanish invaders.

The Inca army attacked the Spanish at the city ofLima, Peru. The Spaniards defeated the Inca. TheInca then attacked the Spanish at Cuzco, but theywere unsuccessful. Manco Capac retreated into themountains north of Cuzco and began a new Incakingdom. The mountainous region was hard to get toand the new Inca kingdom continued for36 more years.

In 1572, the Spanish defeated the Inca and captured their last emperor, Tupac Amaru.The Spanish conquistadors were given qrants to rule their own Inca groups. Manyconquistadors forced the Inca to work on huge plantations. This system of forced laborwas known as the encomienda. The natives were not used to European diseases,and thousands died from smallpox and influenza. The Inca bloodline still exists today.About 8 million Inca descendants live in South America. They still speak the Quechuanlanguage and follow the beliefs and customs of the ancient Inca Empire.

Lesson 2: Spanish Colonization

Francisco Pizarro (1475-1541)

The Fall of the Maya CivilizationThe Maya civilization sprawled across the Yucatan Peninsula. In 1511, a group ofshipwrecked sailors became the first Spaniards to meet the Maya. The expedition ofFrancisco Hernandez de Cordoba in 1517 brought more Spanish conquistadors toMayan territory. Spanish explorer Pedro de Alvarado conquered parts of the Mayacivilization in 1523 and 1524. A Spanish conquistador named Francisco de Montejo triedto conquer the Yucatan Peninsula in 1527. Montejo's son completed his father's missionof conquest in 1546. By 1697, the Spanish had conquered the entire Maya civilization.Like the Aztec and the Inca, the Maya were devastated by diseases the Spanish broughtwith them from Europe. Maya that remained were forced to work in gold and silvermines, or on Spanish plantations as part of the encomienda.

You can still find descendants of the ancient Maya living as farmers in the same region.Their language is a mixture of Spanish and their ancient Mayan tongue. Some modernMaya still worship the same gods as their ancestors. They journey to the ruins of Mayanpyramids and temples to honor their ancient gods.

Duplicating any part of this book is prohibited by law. 39

Over the next few years, the Spanish gained controlover Inca territory. Pizarro made Manco Capac theemperor of the Inca, and put him on the throne in theInca city of Cuzco. While the Spaniards disagreedover how to divide the great wealth of the Inca Empire,Manco Capac planned his escape. He started a revoltagainst the Spanish invaders.

The Inca army attacked the Spanish at the city ofLima, Peru. The Spaniards defeated the Inca. TheInca then attacked the Spanish at Cuzco, but theywere unsuccessful. Manco Capac retreated into themountains north of Cuzco and began a new Incakingdom. The mountainous region was hard to get toand the new Inca kingdom continued for36 more years.

In 1572, the Spanish defeated the Inca and captured their last emperor, Tupac Amaru.The Spanish conquistadors were given qrants to rule their own Inca groups. Manyconquistadors forced the Inca to work on huge plantations. This system of forced laborwas known as the encomienda. The natives were not used to European diseases,and thousands died from smallpox and influenza. The Inca bloodline still exists today.About 8 million Inca descendants live in South America. They still speak the Quechuanlanguage and follow the beliefs and customs of the ancient Inca Empire.

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Lesson 2: Spanish Colonization

Francisco Pizarro (1475-1541)

The Fall of the Maya CivilizationThe Maya civilization sprawled across the Yucatan Peninsula. In 1511, a group ofshipwrecked sailors became the first Spaniards to meet the Maya. The expedition ofFrancisco Hernandez de Cordoba in 1517 brought more Spanish conquistadors toMayan territory. Spanish explorer Pedro de Alvarado conquered parts of the Mayacivilization in 1523 and 1524. A Spanish conquistador named Francisco de Montejo triedto conquer the Yucatan Peninsula in 1527. Montejo's son completed his father's missionof conquest in 1546. By 1697, the Spanish had conquered the entire Maya civilization.Like the Aztec and the Inca, the Maya were devastated by diseases the Spanish broughtwith them from Europe. Maya that remained were forced to work in gold and silvermines, or on Spanish plantations as part of the encomienda.

You can still find descendants of the ancient Maya living as farmers in the same region.Their language is a mixture of Spanish and their ancient Mayan tongue. Some modernMaya still worship the same gods as their ancestors. They journey to the ruins of Mayanpyramids and temples to honor their ancient gods.

Duplicating any part of this book is prohibited by law. 39

Georgia CRCT Coach, GPS Edition, Social Studies, Grade 6

The Columbian ExchangeDuring the 1500s, the Columbian Exchange took place between the Americas andEurope. Potatoes, beans, maize (corn), squash, tomatoes, and chocolate were broughtto Europe and changed their diet forever. The exchange also introduced sugar caneand wheat to the Americas. European ships carried sheep, goats, pigs, and cattle to theAmericas. The Spaniards introduced horses to the Americas. Many native tribes quicklybenefited from the horse. The horse changed how the Native Americans lived, andhow they conducted war. Along with the benefits of goods came the negative aspectof interaction with new people. Sickness and disease were an unwelcome part of theColumbian Exchange. European diseases such as measles, influenza, and smallpoxinfected the native populations. The native peoples had never been exposed to thesegerms. Their bodies could not fight off these illnesses and millions died as a result.

Show What You Know /----------------------,

When the Spanish made expeditions to the Americas, it was the firsttime that they had met civilizations from Mesoamerica. It was the firsttime these civilizations had met Europeans. Imagine that you are eitheran Aztec, Inca, Maya, or a Spanish conquistador. Write about yourimpressions upon meeting someone who is from a completelydifferent culture.

40 Duplicating any part of this book is prohibited by law.