The Fall of the AztecsThe Fall of the AztecsBrought to you by your teacher,

and guide, Mr. Enneking

Fall of the AztecsFall of the Aztecs This is where our journey begins. This is where our journey begins.

Present day Mexico City, Mexico Present day Mexico City, Mexico

Fall of the AztecsFall of the Aztecs

We must go back We must go back in time, far back in in time, far back in time, to the year time, to the year 1519. This was the 1519. This was the time of the Aztec time of the Aztec Empire. Empire.

Fall of the Aztecs Fall of the Aztecs

Let’s take a closer look. Let’s take a closer look.

http://www.ancientmexico.com/http://www.ancientmexico.com/content/map/index.htmlcontent/map/index.html

Fall of the AztecsFall of the Aztecs

Tenochtitlán-Aztec Capital Tenochtitlán-Aztec Capital Man-made island in the middle of Man-made island in the middle of

Lake Texcoco. Lake Texcoco. These islands were called These islands were called

“chinampas.” “chinampas.” City reached by three great City reached by three great

causeways-or earth bridges. causeways-or earth bridges. Population of over 350,000 peoplePopulation of over 350,000 people

Fall of the AztecsFall of the Aztecs

Fall of the AztecsFall of the Aztecs

Aztec Emperor was Moctezuma Aztec Emperor was Moctezuma He lived in a palace with 100 rooms, 100 He lived in a palace with 100 rooms, 100

baths, walls of marble, and rare stone, baths, walls of marble, and rare stone, and courtyards filled with singing birds, and courtyards filled with singing birds, flowers and fountains. flowers and fountains.

TenochtitlánTenochtitlán

Moctezuma Moctezuma

Fall of the AztecsFall of the Aztecs

Moctezuma was in his palace when Moctezuma was in his palace when his messengers arrived with his messengers arrived with astonishing news: a small army of astonishing news: a small army of men and animals, like no men or men and animals, like no men or animals seen before was now animals seen before was now standing on Aztec soil. standing on Aztec soil.

If you were Moctezuma what would If you were Moctezuma what would you do? you do?

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Moctezuma is stumped. Here’s why…. Moctezuma is stumped. Here’s why…. Prophets had said the god Prophets had said the god

Quetzalcoatl (ket-zal-KOH-a-tul) would Quetzalcoatl (ket-zal-KOH-a-tul) would come from the east to take back the come from the east to take back the land that was his. Guess which year land that was his. Guess which year they had predicted his return. they had predicted his return.

Yup, you guessed it, the same year Yup, you guessed it, the same year these new strangers arrive. these new strangers arrive.

They believed these men to be gods. They believed these men to be gods.

Fall of the AztecsFall of the Aztecs

These men were not gods, they were These men were not gods, they were conquistadors, from Spain.conquistadors, from Spain.

Conquistador- Spanish conquerors/ Conquistador- Spanish conquerors/ explorers who sailed to the Americas explorers who sailed to the Americas to obtain gold, silver, and other to obtain gold, silver, and other treasures.treasures.

They were led by a man named: They were led by a man named: Hernando Cortés. Duh, Duh, Dunnn….Hernando Cortés. Duh, Duh, Dunnn….

Hernando CortésHernando Cortés

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Cortez makes landfall in 1519.

Fall of the AztecsFall of the Aztecs

The strange The strange creatures that creatures that these men rode these men rode upon were upon were something the something the Aztecs had never Aztecs had never seen before….seen before….

Horses. Horses.

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Thinking Cortés was a god Moctezuma Thinking Cortés was a god Moctezuma sent him gifts of gold and precious sent him gifts of gold and precious jewels. jewels.

This, as some highly intelligent This, as some highly intelligent intellectual might tell you, was a boo-intellectual might tell you, was a boo-boo. boo.

Cortés was not here to make friends, he Cortés was not here to make friends, he was here for conquest, and, well, let’s was here for conquest, and, well, let’s face it, gold.face it, gold.

Fall of the AztecsFall of the Aztecs

Cortés decides to Cortés decides to follow the gold. His follow the gold. His men weren’t too sure men weren’t too sure they wanted to follow they wanted to follow him into this him into this unknown territory. unknown territory.

Being the great Being the great diplomat, and leader diplomat, and leader that he was, Cortés that he was, Cortés burns his ships, so his burns his ships, so his men have to follow. men have to follow.

Fall of the AztecsFall of the Aztecs

Cortés, and his 400 men march Cortés, and his 400 men march toward Tenochtitlán. toward Tenochtitlán.

As Cortés marches he gathers other As Cortés marches he gathers other angry natives who dislike the Aztecs. angry natives who dislike the Aztecs. They are jealous of the power, and They are jealous of the power, and wealth, they also don’t like one other wealth, they also don’t like one other thing about them………thing about them………

HUMAN SACRIFICE!!!!!HUMAN SACRIFICE!!!!!

Fall of the AztecsFall of the Aztecs

Fall of the AztecsFall of the Aztecs

It’s a long march and Cortés and his It’s a long march and Cortés and his men pass the active volcano, men pass the active volcano, Popocateptl. (poh-puh-ka-TEP-tul)Popocateptl. (poh-puh-ka-TEP-tul)

Fall of the AztecsFall of the Aztecs

When they reach Tenochtitlán When they reach Tenochtitlán Cortés and his men are dazzled. Cortés and his men are dazzled.

They see gardens floating in the They see gardens floating in the lakes, houses with patios and lakes, houses with patios and fountains, and, in one of fountains, and, in one of Moctezuma’s palaces, a private zoo. Moctezuma’s palaces, a private zoo. A pyramid, the Templo Mayor, towers A pyramid, the Templo Mayor, towers above the scene. Tenochtitlán is not above the scene. Tenochtitlán is not only beautiful, but clean. only beautiful, but clean.

Templo MayorTemplo Mayor

Fall of the AztecsFall of the Aztecs

Cortés is welcomed into Tenochtitlán by Cortés is welcomed into Tenochtitlán by Moctezuma. Moctezuma. He realizes now that they are He realizes now that they are not gods, but he tries to please them, so not gods, but he tries to please them, so they will go away.they will go away.

Cortés has other plans entirely. Cortés has other plans entirely. Cortés and his men take Moctezuma Cortés and his men take Moctezuma

prisoner in his own palace. prisoner in his own palace.

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A huge battle breaks out. A huge battle breaks out. The Spaniards have the advantage. The Spaniards have the advantage. Why????? Why????? They have guns.They have guns.

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The Spaniards also bring something else..The Spaniards also bring something else.. SmallpoxSmallpox This is a disease that kills if not treated. This is a disease that kills if not treated.

Many Aztecs die. Many Aztecs die.

Fall of the AztecsFall of the Aztecs

Moctezuma is killed. Moctezuma is killed. The Aztecs fight well, but are defeated. The Aztecs fight well, but are defeated. Cortés burns Tenochtitlán to the Cortés burns Tenochtitlán to the

ground. ground. Cortés fills in the lake, and builds a Cortés fills in the lake, and builds a

Catholic Church on the place where the Catholic Church on the place where the Templo Mayor once stood. Templo Mayor once stood.

He proclaims Tenochtitlán a Spanish He proclaims Tenochtitlán a Spanish possession. possession.

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Cortés sends Cortés sends boatloads of gold boatloads of gold and riches back to and riches back to Spain from the Spain from the Aztec Empire. The Aztec Empire. The few Aztecs left are few Aztecs left are servants to the servants to the Spanish. So falls Spanish. So falls the Aztec Empire. the Aztec Empire.

Fall of the IncaFall of the Inca

The Incas lived in what is now Peru-The Incas lived in what is now Peru-So we’re talking South America. So we’re talking South America.

They were an advanced civilization in They were an advanced civilization in the new world. the new world.

However, one man would change However, one man would change that. that.

Fall of the IncaFall of the Inca

Francisco PizarroFrancisco Pizarro

Fall of the IncaFall of the Inca

In 1532 Pizarro arrives to the Inca In 1532 Pizarro arrives to the Inca civilization with 180 men, 67 horses and 3 civilization with 180 men, 67 horses and 3 big guns. big guns.

Pizarro captures the Inca Ruler and Pizarro captures the Inca Ruler and demands a room full of gold for his return. demands a room full of gold for his return.

The Inca comply but Pizarro kills the ruler The Inca comply but Pizarro kills the ruler Atahualpa anyway. Atahualpa anyway.

Pizarro’s men fight amongst themselves Pizarro’s men fight amongst themselves and Pizarro himself is killed. and Pizarro himself is killed.

However, they conquer the Incan empire.However, they conquer the Incan empire.