Chapter 1 & 2 Notes

The Conquistadores, Incas, Aztecs and Explorers

Why did the Spanish leave their land to Explore others?

• Constant Warfare in Spain

• So the people without much land or money (who had great fighting skills) fled

• (War known as the Reconquista)

New Empires in Americas

Conquistadoreso Spanish soldiers and

explorers who led military expeditions in the Americas

Hernan Cortes (1519)

(What) Spanish – sent to Mexico by the governor of Cuba.

(Why) To look for the “lost expedition” as well as establish trade.

• To prevent soldiers from turning back, Cortes sank their ships and then headed to look for Montezuma (the man with all the riches)

*****Aztec Empire**** Moctezuma – Aztec King; Tenochtitlan – Capital Malintzin/Malinche – An Indian woman who

helped Cortes (gathered enemies of the Aztec) Quetzalcoatl – Aztec God – Moctezema thought

Cortes was a mythical God who, according to legend, would come back to rule

Spanish and Aztecs fought (Spanish advantage – had horses and guns) (Aztecs had many more fighters- about a few thousand to only 500 Spanish)

• Result???Cortes & other enemies defeat Aztecs!!!When Cortes was challenged by another ruler

(governor of Cuba) he went and defeated him on the eastern coast.

The Aztecs at this time rebelled and took back their city while Cortes was gone.

Cortes didn’t want to be defeated-although he had lost a lot of his soldiers in battle, he gathered thousands of Indian soldiers and fought a 3 week bloody battle with the Aztecs that destroyed Tenochtitlan!

Other Conquistadores!!

• Francisco PizarroWhen: 1531Where: Peru/South AmericaWhy: Looking for the “City of Gold”

o Found Inca Indians–Territory (Central Chile to Columbia)

–Ruler: Atahuallpa (tricked and killed by Pizarro)

Result: Conquered Inca Empire (1534)

Pizzaro was tricky- after taking the 26,000 pounds of silver as ransom-

he killed Atahuallpa instead of freeing him!!!

• Ponce de Leon (Spain)When: 1508-1509, 1513, 1521Where: Florida, Puerto Rico, CubaWhy: Searching for the Fountain of

Youth/GoldResults

o Never found the Fountain of Youth– Returned in 1521 and died from an arrow wound while

fighting American Indians (went to Florida twice looking for the fountain).

Explorers

Christopher ColumbusWhere: SpainWhen: 1492 (Bahamas, Portugal, San Salvadore,

Hispaniola), 1493-1496, 1498, 1502-1504Why: Looking for trade route to IndiaResults: Earth is round; New countries & continent;

wealth; Dev. Of Western Hemisphere

Balboa

Balboa (Spain)When: 1513Where: Panama, Central

America, CaribbeanWhy: Find gold/richesResult: Found Pacific

Oceano *Gave Spanish explores

a waterway to Asia for trade

Magellan

Ferdinand Magellan (Spain) Why: Find a sea route

to AsiaWhere: Philippines, India,

Argentina, & UruguayResults: 1st to

Circumnavigate the world (Find an all water route to Asia)

Straits of Magellan

Magellan’s Travels

Cabot

Henry Cabot (England)When: 1497-1498Where: Coast of N.

America & New Foundland

Why: Land for England & water route to India

Result: Claims land in North America

Samuel De Champlain

Champlain (France)When: 1605-1615Where: Explored

North America o St. Lawrence River

o Great Lakes

Result: French claims much of Canada (Quebec)

Hudson

Henry Hudson (Dutch)When & Where:

o 1609 New York

o 1610 Hudson Bay

Amerigo VespucciWhen: 1501Where: South AmericaWhy: Search for new land/Explore S. AmericaResult: Made many writings about the new

world and captured the imaginations of the European people

*North and South America named in his honor (by a German mapmaker)

Other notables

• Juan Rodriguez- known for given the Spanish claim to the Pacific Coast of North America

• Hernando de Soto- went looking for gold in Florida- ended up in Arkansas –first European to cross the Mississippian river