Spanish Conquistadors
Cortes, Pizarro, and Coronado
Conquistadors
- A Spanish term for the word conquerer
- were soldiers, explorers, and adventurers at the service of the Spanish Empire
- were very holy people who would generally pray before going to battle
- the most famous are Cortes and Pizarro, but there is also Coronado
- obsessed with matters of honor and reputation
- Spanish soldiers had a reputation for rowdiness, and duels were not uncommon.
Cortes
- born into a family of lower nobility
- father was an infantry Captain for Spanish army
- is 2nd cousin once removed with Pizarro
- conquered the Aztec Empire
- Aztec thought he was Quetzalcoatl
Pizarro
- Spanish Conquistador
- Conquered the Incan civilization
- only had 168 men 27 horses and 1 canon
- got the defeated soldiers from the Incan civil war to fight for his side.
- 2nd cousins once removed from Cortes
Coronado
Francisco Coronado was a Spanish explorer and a conquistador. Coronado was born around the year 1510 in Salamanca, Spain. Francisco Coronado was the first Spanish Conquistador to explore the southwestern area of North America. He and his team are accredited with the discovery of the Grand Canyon. He tried to convert tribes such as the Hopi to Christianity but was not accepted. He killed many Native Americans because of this.
He also searched for treasure that was rumored to be located in Northern Mexico. He hoped to conquer the mythical Seven Cities of Gold. He did not find any gold in Northern Mexico. Therefore, he continued his search along the Colorado River, which was on the present border of California and Arizona. He was determined to find the treasure.
Coronado was the Governor of the Kingdom of Nueva Galicia, located northwest of Mexico. In 1537, Coronado married a daughter of the Colonial treasurer and had eight children together. Coronado remained Governor of Nueva Galicia until 1544.Coronado was sent to work in Mexico City and died 10 years later on September 22, 1554. He is known for his expeditions throughout Mexico and the United States.
Reasons why for conquering the Mesoamerican People
- Treasure (gold and silver)
- Polytheistic-not a fan. Spanish Inquisition
- Huan sacrifice was not a well received practice world wide at this point
- Exploring and waned the land to set up Spanish colonies-very successful
- slaves
- thought a lot of the Mesoamerican's rituals and dances were "devil like"
Issues with splitting the treasure
- the division of the treasures produced bloody conflicts, such as the one between Pizarro and Almagro
- after Peru fell to Spain, Francisco Pizarro told Almagro, before they became enemy's to go to the Inca Empire's northern city of Quito to claim it.
- Their fellow conquistador Seastian de Belalcazar, who had gone forth without Pizarro's approval, had already reached Quito.
- The arrival of Pedro de Alvarado from Mexico in search of Inca gold further complicated the situation for Almagro and Belalcazar
- Alvarado left South America in exchange for monetary compensation from Pizarro.
- Almagro was executed on 1538, under Pizarro's orders.
- In Lima in 1541 supporters of Diego Almagro II assassinated Francisco Pizarro.
- Belalcazar in 1546 ordered the execution of Jorge Robledo, who governed a neighboring province in yet another land-related vendetta.
- Belalcazar was tried, convicted and condemned for killing Robledo and the other offenses pertaining to his involvement in the wars between armies of conquistadors and was then killed.
M.I.A and Spanish
Aztec
- Conquered by Cortez which they believed to be their god Quetzalcoatl.
- Conquered in the early 16th century.
- Religion: polytheistic, human offering or sacrifice very popular
- Montezuma II was the leader of the Aztecs when this occurred.
- Very unique agriculture-Chinampas
- Would use the volcanic rock called obsidian with their weaponry.
- Their capital city was Tenochtitlan.
- Number system based on twenties
- Key buildings: Templo Mayor, Saint Cecilia Acatitlan-used as sacrificing building-sacrificed more than 60,000 people on first day-water was red from blood, Great Pyramid of Cholula-largest man made pyramid, Temples of the Sun and Moon.
Mayans
- Capital: Takal
- Their classic period was from mid 3rd century to very early 10th century
- Religion: polytheistic and human sacrifices were common
- collapsed is still not officially known but very recent research would suggest that it was due to a 200 year drought.
- Known for their calandar 12-21-2012
- Popol Vuh is their book of creation.
- Key Buildings: Great Ball Court--play ball game try to get it through hoop, Temple of the Jaguars-the captain of the winning team would get sacrificed-thirteen steps to get to heaven and skip all three steps, Temple of the Magician-dawrf given challenge to build temple in a day and did, El Castillo-means the castle in spanish
Inans
- Cuzco is their captial
- No real writing system
- Quipo(u) was used for both math and reading-system of knots in a string
- Polytheistic religion, human sacrifice was uncommon
- Created a road system consisting of around 18k to 25k miles.
- Conquered by the Pizarro and Spanish in the mid to late 16th Century.
- Massive civil war between brothers was occurring at this time.one brother kills other brother and names himself king-Pizarro kills the remaining Incas
- Small pox was being spread
- Pizarro had less than 200 men.
- Key buildings: Temple Hill-Religious building
Why the Spanish thought it was fine to attack and conquer the Aztecs and Incas?
- It would expand their empire.
- The Spanish thought of them as just animals instead of human beings.
- They thought of it as serving God, to become rich as all men want to.
- They wanted to spread Christianity. Spanish thought it was their duty to wipe out all of the non-christians.
- Wanted gold/treasure. Included silver. They could sell it at a higher price.
- Gain more power over other nations.
- The Spanish were trying to make their empire bigger than Portugal’s (rivalry)
- The Spanish were afraid that England and France would move in if Spain didn’t hold on to the territories.
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