The Spaniards and the Pre-Columbian Civilization

By Grace Koury

Aztecs, Incas and Mayas

Standards • 5.2 Identify the three major pre-Columbian civilizations that

existed in Central and South America (Maya, Aztec, and Inca) and their locations. Describe their political structures, religious practices, and use of slaves.

• 5.4 Explain why the Aztec and Inca civilizations declined in the 16th century.

• A. the encounters between Cortez and Montezuma• B. the encounters between Pizarro and the Incas• C. the goals of the Spanish conquistadors• D. the effects of European diseases, particularly smallpox,

throughout the Western hemisphere

Aztecs• They lived in Central Mexico –

Valley of Mexico• Their capital city was Tenochtitlan,

an unusual city because it had been built in the middle of a lake on islands

• The Aztecs were polytheistic meaning they believed in many Gods

• They were brought down by Smallpox

• They used other tribes as slaves and human sacrifice

• Their leader was Montezuma • They worshiped a god named

Quetzacoatl (A pale skinned god)

public.asu.edu

Mayas

• The Mayas lived on the Mexican cost-Yucatan Peninsula

• They were polytheistic (They believed in many gods)

• The region did not contain as much gold

• They had slaves, who could sometimes gain their freedom

• There wasn’t just one major city, it would be much harder for the Spanish to take over

people.uncw.edu

Incas • They lived in South America,

Andes Mountains, Peru • The Inca capital was Cuzco• They had no written language, but

had spoken language (used knots as messages)

• They were polytheistic (They believed in many gods)

• The Inca ruler was Atahualpa • The Incas where a huge

civilization, with about 20 million people

• The Incas had been easily taken over in 1513 by the Spanish and Pizarro because they had been fighting a civil war, a war when two or more groups of people in the same country, are fighting.

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Cortez

• Cortez was a Spanish explorer and conquistador (a person who conquers, or they take over by force)

• To make going back home impossible, he destroyed all but one ship, that he sent back to Cuba

• He traveled with 16 horses and around 500 to 650 men to conquer the Aztecs in 1519

• He took Montezuma hostage, and Montezuma was killed in a battle soon after that

etc.usf.edu

Pizarro• Pizarro was a conquistador

and a Spanish explorer • He traveled with about 27

horses, and about 180 men• He kidnapped Atahualpa and

held him for a ransom because he refused to accept Christianity, and the king of Spain as his ruler

• Pizarro demanded that a room be filled with silver and gold and then Atahualpa would be returned

• He tricked the Incas after they presented the ransom, and Atahualpa was soon killed

etc.usf.edu

• How did the Spanish explorers and conquistadors change Central and South America forever? (Where do we see the lasting effect of these conquistadors even in 2011?)

• Now today (2011) almost all of Central and South America are speaking Spanish

• Today a majority of people in Central and South America are no longer worshiping their native gods, and are now Christian

• Most of Maya, Inca and Aztec tradition and culture have disappeared forever…….