Cortez finds Aztecs

1. Analyzing the Spanish Conquest of the
Aztecs
•Montezuma ruled Aztecs
in Tenochtitlan from
1502-1519
•He and Aztecs were
waiting for bearded
white god Quetzalcoatl
who was believed to
destroy empire

2. Hernando Cortes: Spanish Explorer
•1519: Cortes set out to
find and capture city if
Tenochtitlan for GOLD
•He landed in Veracruz,
east coast of Mexico
•Same year as the
Aztecs predicted
Quetzalcoatl would
return!

3. Journey to Tenochtitlan
• It took Cortes and
men 3 months to
travel from Veracruz
to Tenochtitlan (200
miles)
• Attacked by Aztec
allies
• Other Indians
who were
conquered by
Aztecs joined
Spanish to seek
revenge!

4. Cortes arrives in Tenochtitlan
•Once Cortes arrived,
Montezuma invited him in as
an honored guest
•Believed Cortes’s victories
over Aztec allies was proof
that he was a GOD
•Cortes worried his true
identity would be discovered!
He took Montezuma hostage
for 6 months.

5. Suddenly, Cortes called to Veracruz to settle
dispute
• While gone, Aztec priests had
religious ceremony
• Remaining Spanish soldiers
thought they might be
sacrificed!
• They attacked unarmed
priests
• Aztecs surrounded Spaniards

6. •Cortez returned,
Aztecs attacked,
Spaniards fled city
•Montezuma killed
in battle
•5 months later, Cortes
gathers army of
1000s and returns to
attack
•Aztecs weakened by
smallpox, still held off
army

7. •Cortes and army defeated Aztecs.
Surrounded city and cut off supply of food
and water.
•Aztecs surrendered August 21, 1521, city was
in ruins 