Tlaxcalan Alliance and Spanish Conquest

How was the Aztec Empire primarily formed?

• A unified kingdom under a single emperor.

• A military conquest by Tenochtitlan over all other city-states.

• An alliance between three powerful city-states.

• A loose confederation of independent tribes.

What was a significant aspect of the Aztec Triple Alliance's demands from its tributaries?

• Exclusive trade agreements for luxury goods.

• Mandatory military service for all able-bodied men.

• Supply of raw materials, gold, and prisoners for human sacrifice.

• Construction of elaborate public works projects.

What challenge did Hernan Cortes face regarding his expedition to Mesoamerica?

• Lack of sufficient funding and supplies.

• A mutiny by his own crew members.

• The revocation of his expeditionary charter by the Cuban Governor.

• Hostile encounters with indigenous populations upon landing.

What crucial role did Jeronimo de Aguilar and La Malinche play in Hernan Cortes' expedition?

• They served as military strategists and advisors.

• They provided essential medical knowledge and supplies.

• They acted as translators, facilitating communication with indigenous groups.

• They guided the Spanish to hidden gold mines.

How did Aztec Emperor Moctezuma initially respond to the arrival of Hernan Cortes and the Spanish-Totonac alliance?

• He immediately declared war and mobilized his armies.

• He sent ambassadors with gifts to appease the Spanish and discourage their advance.

• He formed a defensive alliance with other Mesoamerican empires.

• He ignored their presence, believing they would eventually leave.

What was the strategic purpose behind Hernán Cortés's decision to scuttle his ships upon arriving in the New World?

• To prevent the ships from falling into enemy hands.

• To ensure his men's unwavering loyalty by eliminating any possibility of retreat.

• To use the timber from the ships for constructing new fortifications.

• To reduce the logistical burden of maintaining a large fleet.

What was the primary motivation for the Tlaxcalans to form an alliance with Hernán Cortés against the Aztec Empire?

• A shared religious ideology with the Spanish.

• The promise of advanced Spanish weaponry and technology.

• Deep-seated resentment and a desire for retribution against the Aztecs due to long-standing conflicts.

• The opportunity to gain control over new trade routes.

What was the significance of the city of Cholula before the massacre carried out by the Spanish and their Tlaxcalan allies?

• It was the primary administrative capital of the Aztec Empire.

• It served as a major military training ground for Aztec warriors.

• It was an important religious center that had previously shifted its allegiance from the Tlaxcalans to the Aztecs.

• It was a neutral territory known for its diplomatic relations between various indigenous groups.

Upon entering Tenochtitlan, what was one of the first significant demands Hernán Cortés made of Emperor Montezuma?

• To immediately surrender all Aztec gold and silver to the Spanish.

• To provide the Spanish with a large contingent of Aztec warriors for future campaigns.

• To allow the erection of Christian religious symbols, such as a cross and an image of the Virgin Mary, within the imperial palace.

• To formally recognize the King of Spain as the supreme ruler of the Aztec Empire.

What action by Pedro de Alvarado, left in charge of Tenochtitlan by Cortés, directly triggered a major Aztec uprising?

• He attempted to convert the Aztec nobility to Christianity by force.

• He ordered the destruction of several important Aztec temples.

• He massacred unarmed Aztec warriors and noblemen during a religious festival.

• He imposed heavy taxes and demanded tribute from the Aztec population.