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The Fall of Tenochtitlan

The Fall of Tenochtitlan. Aztec Civilization. Descendents of the Toltecs Legend of Huitzilopochtli (their God) Promised Land = place where an eagle landed on a cactus while eating a snake Lake Texcoco, Tenochtitlan (meaning "Place of the Nopal Cactus"). Tenochtitlan Mexican Flag.

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The Fall of Tenochtitlan

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  1. The Fall of Tenochtitlan

  2. Aztec Civilization • Descendents of the Toltecs • Legend of Huitzilopochtli (their God) • Promised Land = place where an eagle landed on a cactus while eating a snake • Lake Texcoco, Tenochtitlan (meaning "Place of the Nopal Cactus")

  3. Tenochtitlan • Mexican Flag

  4. Huitzilopochtli = war god • Human sacrifice of neighboring tribes (rip out human hearts, cannibalism of brave warriors) • Quetzalcoatl = brother of Huitzilopochtli, was to return (white god)

  5. Cortes • Hernan Cortes – (1519) sent to Mexico from governor of Cuba, search for lost expedition • Hears of the wealthy land of Moctezuma (Aztec king) …..changes his mission! • Sinks ships so men cannot turn back • Cortes’s supplies:500 soldiers, 16 horses, some guns

  6. Moctezuma • Hears of Cortes’ arrival • "Our lord and king, forgive my boldness. When I went to the shores of the great sea, there was a mountain range or small mountain floating in the midst of the water, moving here and there without touching the shore." • "It is true that strange people have come to the shores of the great sea. They have very light skin, much lighter than ours. They all have beards, and their hair is fair and comes only to their ears."

  7. Other omens: comets, strange weather • Moctezuma believes Quetzalcoatl (white god) is returning • Sends gifts – Gold! • Cortes takes Moctezuma prisoner • Also received help from enemies of Aztecs, Malintzin = interpreter

  8. Governor of Cuba sends officials to stop Cortes, Cortes marches back to coast and defeats them • While Cortes is away…..Aztecs rebel, take back city • Moctezuma dies (thought to be accidental) • Outnumbered Spanish take many losses

  9. Cortes gathers Indian soldiers (enemies of Aztecs) • Attacks city with canoes • Cortes has guns and cannons • Spanish build a portable Bridge • Other Aztec communities fall • Illnesses (small pox)

  10. Francisco Pizarro • Spanish officer (arrested Balboa) • Heard of gold in Andes Mountains • 1531 lands in Peru, reaches Inca empire

  11. Inca had been weakened by small pox • Involved in civil war • Pizarro invites ruler Atahuallpa to dinner and kidnaps him • Offer gold and silver as ransom • Pizarro kills him anyhow • Joins forces with enemies to conquer empire

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