Analyzing the Spanish Conquest of the Aztecs•Montezuma ruled Aztecs in Tenochtitlan from 1502-

1519•He and Aztecs were waiting for bearded white god

Quetzalcoatl who was believed to destroy empire

Hernando Cortes: Spanish Explorer

•1519: Cortes set out to find and capture city if Tenochtitlan for GOLD•He landed in Veracruz, east coast of Mexico•Same year as the Aztecs predicted Quetzalcoatl would return!

Journey to Tenochtitlan• It took Cortes and

men 3 months to travel from Veracruz to Tenochtitlan (200 miles)• Attacked by Aztec

allies• Other Indians

who were conquered by Aztecs joined Spanish to seek revenge!

Cortes arrives in Tenochtitlan

•Once Cortes arrived, Montezuma invited him in as an honored guest•Believed Cortes’s victories

over Aztec allies was proof that he was a GOD

•Cortes worried his true identity would be discovered! He took Montezuma hostage for 6 months.

Suddenly, Cortes called to Veracruz to settle dispute

•While gone, Aztec priests had religious ceremony• Remaining Spanish soldiers

thought they might be sacrificed! • They attacked unarmed

priests• Aztecs surrounded Spaniards

•Cortez returned, Aztecs attacked, Spaniards fled city•Montezuma killed

in battle•5 months later,

Cortes gathers army of 1000s and returns to attack•Aztecs weakened by

smallpox, still held off army

•Cortes and army defeated Aztecs. Surrounded city and cut off supply of food and water.•Aztecs surrendered August 21, 1521, city was

in ruins