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