The Life of hernando cortes By Nazm kaur grewal

THE LIFE OF HERNANDO CORTES BY N A Z M K A U R G R E WA L

hi

BIRTH Hernando Cortes was born in 1485 (exact date unknown) in Medellín, Spain. Born to Catalina Pizarro Altmarino and

Martín Cortes de Monroy. He had four sisters and no brothers.

EDUCATION  At the age of 14, Cortes was sent to the University of

Salamanca to study law but didn’t enjoy it and failed the course in 1501.  Cortes heard rumors about explorers traveling to the “New

World” and was very enthralled by these stories.  After failing his course, Cortes joined a group of trained sailors, led by Nicolas de Ovando and Diego Velaquez

FIRST VOYAGE In 1502, Cortes joined the Ovando voyage to the “New World” and sailed to Hispaniola

The Ovando voyage consisted of 2500 men and 30 ships.

SECOND VOYAGE Cortes is made a sailor on Velazquez’s voyage to Cuba in 1511. • The voyage consisted of 4 vessels and 300 men.

Once they successfully reached Cuba, they established Bayamo, Cuba (in 1513). • Trinidad, Santo Espiritu, Puerto Principe and Santiago, Cuba were later on founded in 1514.

THIRD VOYAGE  In 1518, an explorer, named Juan de Grijalva, discovered Mexico and convinced Velazquez to sail there • Cortes was appointed as captain on Velazquez’s journey

 In 1519, they sailed to the Yucatan Peninsula and soon discovered Tenochtitlan and Tabasco.  In Tabasco, Cortes met a women named Malinche and

made her his mistress, guide and interpreter.

THE AZTEC EMPIRE  Cortes established La Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz in Mexico  He meets the people there and learns about the nearby riches, and the culture, customs and religion of the Aztec Empire

 The Aztecs believe that Cortes is the Aztec God, Quetzalcoal, because his arrival clashes with the predicted arrival of the God

TORTURE  The Aztecs treated Cortes very kindly, but the friendliness didn’t stay for a long time  Fearing an attack, Cortes held the Aztec King, Montezuma II, hostage and forced him to swear an alliance with Charles V

of Spain  Velazquez sent 1400 men to arrest Cortes since Cortes had left to go to Mexico without him

DEATH Cortes died at the age of 62 on December

2nd, 1547 in Castilleja de la Cuesta, Spain  The cause of his death was pleurisy, an infection in the lungs