ch. 9

Ch. 9 Spain & Aztec Collide

th 15

century: SPAIN

• claimed the Canary Islands and Christopher Columbus had landed on islands in the Caribbean • The Spanish were: establishing a large empire to compete with Portugal building national unity increasing its colonies and gaining wealth from the new lands converting non-Christians in other lands to Catholics

th 15

century: Aztec

• conquered most of Meso-America and created a unified civilization. • The Aztecs were:  expanding the empire for the glory of their God, Huitzilopochtli  receiving payments of generous tribute & taxes  profiting from trade throughout the empire  taking captives to be sacrificed

What did the Aztec think of the Spanish before they met • Described their ships as floating towers • Men with light skin, long beards and hair that came only till their ears (Gods) • Aztec had experienced omens that warned of a disaster (8 omens) • Belief that Queztcoatl was returning

What did the Spanish know about the Aztec

• Hernan Cortez knew he could not defeat the Aztec army on his own  WHY? He only had 500 men • He would have to use political rivalries to his advantage  WHY? Many city-states did not like being controlled by the Aztecs and wanted independence • SO…for 8 months, he gathered many allies by using fear (killing nobility), force (using the firepower of weapons like muskets and canons), or trickery

Spanish: Information & Communication • Cortez had 2 valuable interpreters – La Malinche (Dona Marina) – Spanish sailor (Geronimo de Aguilar)

• To Communicate: Cortez

Aguilar

Dona Marina

Aztec

REVIEW • What were the 8 omens that the Aztecs experienced prior to the arrival of Spanish? • Mocetzuma thought Cortez was the God _____________ • Why did the Aztec think the Spanish were Gods? • How did Cortez communicate with the MesoAmericans?

Aztec & Spanish Meet • Mocetzuma send gifts to Cortez because he hoped that it would convince Cortez to leave  WHY? Whoever offered the richest gift was the most powerful • Moctezuma sent Cortes the clothing of the god Quetzalcoatl, which Cortes put on  SO? The Aztec believed that Cortes was the returning God • Mocetzuma sent Cortes food containing human blood because a God would eat the food , but Cortes refused  WHY? Cortes thought it was poisoned

Spanish Allies • Tlaxcalans were enemies with Aztecs • never been conquered by the Aztec • Because their attack on the Spanish failed, they made an alliance with Cortes to defeat the Aztec • Moctezuma told Cortes to travel to Cholula where he planned to ambush them. • But Cortes & the Tlaxcalans attacked them first and caused heavy loss • So , the Cholulas agreed to join with Cortes to regain independence from the Aztec

The Spanish Arrive • Mocetzuma addressed Cortes as though he was a God • Moctezuma treated Cortes and his men royally  prepared a palace; gave them tours of the city • One week later, Cortes took Moctezuma hostage  Cortes replaced all the idols in the palace & temple with Catholic saints

•

Massacre of the Unarmed Aztecs After 6 months of being in Tenochtitlan, Cortes left to deal with the

governor of Cuba. He left Pedro de Alvardo in charge of Tenochtitlan • At the annual feast of Huitzilopochtli, Alvardo and his men surrounded and massacred the unarmed worshippers including nobles & priests • Aztecs were angry and fought back against the Spanish. They trapped the Spanish in Cortes’ palace away from the center of the city • When Cortes returned, he ordered Moctezuma to speak to the Aztec to allow the Spanish to return • The Aztecs mocked & hurled stones at Moctezuma • He was seriously injured and died a few days later • Cuitlahuac was elected as the new huey tlatoani

What lead to the downfall of the great Moctezuma? • Could not decide if Cortes was a god or an enemy • Did not understand the Spanish motives or Cortes’ ruthlessness • Could not deal effectively with the Spanish – kept trying to deal with Cortes in a gracious manner

Noche Triste • June 1520: Spanish try to leave the city in the middle of the night – Aztec surround them on the causeways, attacking them from all sides – Spanish were carrying stolen gold and could not move quickly, so many were killed or drowned Death toll: approx 700 Spanish & 2000-3000 Tlaxcalans

Run away Now

GET OUT

The unforeseen enemy: SMALLPOX

• Aztec began to die from the smallpox HOW? Brought over by the Europeans who had immunity to this disease BUT…the Aztecs had never been exposed to this virus, so their body had no resistance • In 5 months, approx. half the city population may have died due to this epidemic • Cuitlauac died from smallpox (reign lasted only 80 days) • Cuauhtemoc was elected huey tlatoni

REVIEW • What were the items Mocetzuma sent Cortes as gifts? • With whom did the Spanish form alliances? • How did Mocetzuma die? • Who was elected as the new huey tlatoni? • Why was the Noche Triste so sorrowful? • What led to the death of many Aztec?

The Final Battle

• After the Noche Triste, Cortes and his men retreated to Tlaxcala for 5 months to recover • Cortes returned to Tenochtitlan with the Tlaxcalans and warriors from Texcoco (used to part of the Triple Alliance, but switched sides due to the strength of the Spanish) • Aztec has no allies to support them and half the population had died from smallpox but they managed to hold off the Spanish for 75 days • Cortes cut off all the water & food supplies from reaching the city • SO…people died from hunger & contaminated water • Aug 13 1521: Aztec surrender • Cuauhtemoc was hanged

The Final Battle • Spanish destroyed the once glorious city of Tenochtitlan • Tore down pyramids, temples and palace – used the stones to build new palaces & cathedrals • Set houses on fire & filled the causeways with rubble & stone • 1522: Cortes became the first governor & captain-general of New Spain

New Spain: Slaves – Conquistadors were given tracts of land (Haciendas) as a reward » Aztec were forced to work as slaves/labourers – 1512: King Ferdinand established laws that called for fair treatment of “Indians” » Indians could not be used to carry goods on their backs » Children under 14 & pregnant women were not to do heavy work in the mine » Spanish masters were prohibited from beating, whipping or calling them dogs – The Spanish attempted to wipe the Aztec culture » Destroyed their religion, art & science » Burned/Smashed the codices, sculptures & records » Built the Spanish city of Mexico over Tenochtitlan – Continued the tribute system to gain wealth from other city-states

New Spain: Conversion • Many of the indigenous people adopted the Christian God as one of their many gods • Over times, most of the citizens of New Spain became devout Roman Catholics • Franciscan & Dominican priests worked closely with the Aztec survivors – Converted the noble class first, so the common people would follow their example – Established schools & hospitals – Made sure each village had its own priest & church

New Spain: Adapting to a New Society • Surviving Aztec nobles learned bookkeeping & business practices and became merchants – Brought goods from Spain & sold them in Aztec colonies

• Learned to speak and write Spanish – Allowed them to document Aztec history & traditions as well as their lives under Spanish rule

• Mestizos: Children of Spanish & Aztec descent

Why Did Moctezuma & Cortes Make the Decisions they did Factor

Religion

Aztec

• Thought that Cortes was the returning God Quetzacoatl • Omens created a sense that bad luck was coming • Mocetzuma did not want to show disrespect – so he welcomed Cortes & his men into the heart of the city

Spanish

• Believed that the only way to salvation was the Roman Catholic Church • Was their duty to spread Christianity & convert non-believers • Appalled/disgusted by the practice of human sacrifice

Why Did Moctezuma & Cortes Make the Decisions they did Factor

Worldview

Aztec

• Did not understand the Spanish worldview • Aztecs had only conquered societies that had a similar worldviews • Aztecs believed that had to be gracious – they welcomed the Spanish and tried to negotiate with them

Spanish

• God, Glory, Gold • Wanted to claim the gold, jewels & wealth from the Aztec civilization

Why Did Moctezuma & Cortes Make the Decisions they did Factor

Aztec

Warfare

Tactics: negotiating first, then war (with specific rules) Wounds: injure enemy warriors, not to be life threatening Warriors: to be captured alive for sacrifice Civilians: to be captured alive to be used as slaves Property: not to be destroyed in order to receive tribute Killing: shows disrespect for human life – human life should only be sacrificed to the Gods Spanish

Spanish

Tactics: Use existing political rivalries to their advantage - Planned surprise attacks to ensure victory Warriors: kill as many as possible to defeat them Property: destroy & look so that the survivors would be at their mercy Killing: Necessary to ensure victory & dominance