The Aztecs After Cortes

The Aztecs After Cortes

by Caitlin Irwin

​The end of the Aztecs

• ​In 1521 the Spanish conquered the Aztecs.

• ​The Spanish destroyed Aztec temples and buildings.

Hernan Cortes

After conquering the Aztecs, Cortes renamed the city of Tenochtitlan to Mexico City. The city became the Spanish capital of the territory which was called New Spain. Cortes was named governor of the land by King Charles I of Spain.

Multiple Choice

What did Cortes rename the city of Tenochtitlan to?

• Cancun

• San Cruz

• Mexico City

• Juarez

​Mexico

• ​After the Aztecs were conquered, Mexico became a colony of Spain

• ​Spaniards owned the land.

• ​Native Americans were forced to work on the land.

• ​Native Americans had no power, wealth or rights.

​Spanish Language

• ​Because the Spanish took control of the Aztec's land in Mexico, the main language eventually became Spanish.

• ​Today over 90% of the people living in Mexico speak Spanish.

Multiple Choice

Today, most people in Mexico speak:

• English

• Spanish

• Aztec

• Maya

Multiple Choice

Why do people in Mexico speak Spanish?

• Because Mexico was part of Spain -- In Spain they speak Spanish

• The Aztecs spoke Spanish, so they kept that language.

​Mexico

• ​In 1821 Mexico became independent from Spain

​Traces of the Aztecs

• ​Mexico's flag shows an eagle holding a snake.

• ​Mexico gets its name from the Aztecs -- Another name for the Aztecs was Mexica

• ​Aztec ruins still exist

• ​one million Mexicans speak Nahuatl -- the language of the Aztecs.

Open Ended

What is one way there is still a trace of the Aztec civilization in Mexico.