The Spanish and Aztec Encounter

The Spanish and Aztec Encounter

By Eric Rubio

​A Spanish explorer who came from Spain to the new world in search of land, treasure, and resources

Conquistador​

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​A Spanish conquistador who came to Mexico and went to war with the Aztecs

​​Hernan Cortes

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The Emperor of the Aztecs who ruled from 1502-1520, and met Hernan Cortes in Tenochtitlan.​

​​Montezuma II

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​When the Spanish arrived to the Americas they first landed in the West Indies on the Islands of Cuba and the Dominican Republic. A Spanish conquistador named Hernan Cortes, fought in Cuba and lands in the eastern coast of Mexico in 1519.

​The Arrival of the Spanish

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​When Hernan Cortes lands on the eastern coast of Mexico, he is in search of fame, gold and hopes to find gold and strike riches in Mexico. He first comes into contact with the Native Indians who live in the area, and they tell him of the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan. He immediately wants to go there and begins forming alliances with these native groups to hopefully overthrow the Aztecs.

Hernan Cortes​

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Multiple Choice

Which country has the most gold in the World?

• Canada

• Mexico

• The United States

• Peru

Multiple Choice

Where do you think most of Earths undiscovered gold is found?

• The Mountains

• The Ocean

• The Desert

• In Lakes

News of a pale bearded man reaches the Aztec capital, when Montezuma II hears of this he believes it is their god Quetzalcoatl who has returned to the Aztec people in the form of a bearded man according to the Aztecs myths. This legend will be one of many downfalls of the Aztec Empire.​

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When Cortes arrives to Mexico he meets with the Aztec Emperor Montezuma II. Montezuma II , offers Cortes and his men a place to stay. As Cortes travels through Tenochtitlan it is a city of wonder he says, like something he has never seen before. He Looks at all the gold the Aztecs posses and this only ignites his hunger for the metal.

After a week Montezuma II is taken prisoner in his own palace by Hernan Cortes and Cortes demands gold for his release. Montezuma II rules as a puppet ruler. The Aztecs no longer listen to their emperor and rebel against their emperor and the Spanish. The Spanish realize they are in trouble and attempt to flee the island of Tenochtitlan and a battle breaks out between the two groups.

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1. Aztec Legend

2. Cortes was able to make allies

3. Horses, Armor, and Superior Weapons gave the Spanish an advantage in battle.

4. The Spanish carried diseases the Aztecs were not immune too.​

​The Four Factors which led to the Aztec Empires Collapse

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