Who was Hernando Cortes?

Bellwork 10/26/15

• What are the benefits of being wealthy? Why do so many people desire to be rich so badly?

Mercantilism

• The theory that a countries power depended on its material wealth.– Voyages were very risky and costs lots of money.– Countries did everything they could to acquire

wealth.– Wealth allowed nations to build strong navies and

buy vital goods– The goal of every European nation became the

attainment of as much wealth as possible.

Write down your observations. How is the man in the middle of the image portrayed?

Hernando Cortes

• Cortes was a conquistador, or Spanish conqueror. The Spanish had conquered many of the Caribbean islands, and now looked towards the American mainland

• The conquistadors were attracted to the rumors of gold and silver all over Mexico.

• The Spanish were the first European settlers in the Americas. They would conquer the Aztec and Incan Empires relatively easily.