Reconquest Flashcards
Spanish Conqueror of Mexico. He was born in Extremadura in 1485. Educated at Universidad de Salamanca Law School
He first fought in Italy and subsequently went to the Americas (Arrives in Hispaniola as a notary [lawyer type dude] in 1504)
Once in Hispaniola, he helped (soon to be Governor) Diego Velasquez conquer Cuba, and became his secretary.
By 1513, he becomes Governor of Santiago where he spent most of his $ of
women, parties, and dishes (wtf)…
Hernan Cortes
a. Conqueror that was with Cortes during the Conquest of Mexico
b. Writes a book on the History of the Conquest in 1568 (writes from memory so it’s
a little iffy)
Bernal Diaz
a. Bernardino de Sahagún compiled native accounts of the conquest of Mexico into a book known as the __________ _______.
Interviewed natives from about 1540-1585, so most of them are not first hand accounts.
Mistranslation– in the new translation Montezuma bows at Cortes’ feet, but in the old, less direct translation, Montezuma prostrates (lay oneself flat on the ground face downward, esp. in reverence or submission) himself at Cortes’ feet. Showing a much more submissive and docile Montezuma.
Florentine Codex
Region where the most Conquistadors came from were __________ (19%) and Andalucía (30%).
_________ was largely dominated by the Mesta (sheep-herders guild) with 2 to 3% of the people owning more than 95% of the land.
Extremadura
Governor of Cuba
At first Gov. _________ was a good friend of Cortes, but after Cortes disobeys
him by leaving to Mexico upon the return of Grijalva, _________ sends a hitman,
Narvaez, to go kill Cortes.
Diego Velazquez
Shipwrecked on way to Hispaniola in 1511, so he lived with Yucatan Mayans for 8 years
Significance: learned the Mayan language so he served as Cortes’ translator up until he found Malinche along the Tabascan Coast.
Jeronimo Aguilar
Given as a gift to Cortes
Chief gave Cortes women, slaves, food, etc., just so that the Spaniards world leave them alone
She was born in the Aztec region to a noble family (understood both Nahuatl dialects [noble and peasant one])
When her pops died, her step-dad (dick) sold her into Mayan slavery, not Aztec… reason why she learned two more languages (Mayan dialects)
Given to Cortes’ soldier Portocarrero as a slam-piece basically, but Cortes soon realized upon arrival at Veracruz, that she could speak to the natives
She had been translating to Aguilar who would translate to Cortes for a while She soon takes over Aguilar’s job and Cortes takes her as his own.
Malinche
Cortes apparently fought 100,000 ________ on his way to Tenochtitlan, but they ended up being the biggest contributors to his army… later (6 to 8 thousand)
They decided to team up with Cortes after Cortes ruthlessly chopped off their spies’ hands for no apparent reason… they though Cortes and the Spaniards were nuts
Tlaxcala
Cortes puts on a military display here, and he gets them respectful of him
One of the first cities to give Cortes soldiers
Cempoala
__________ was on the same ship as Jeronimo de Aguilar, but he ended up with a different tribe. He actually marries Mayan, has children, and really assimilates. He declines Cortes’ offer to join the conquest. Later dies fighting the Spaniards in 1536” – Michael Perez
Gonzalo de Guerrero
Cortes sent a total of 5 ______ back to the King (two copies in two different boats) in hope that the King would legitimize his conquest and not kill him before it was over. This is why a lot of the stuff that Cortes wrote was exaggerated.
They were basically his defense for a court case he though he would need.
Letters
“Cortes left Tlaxcala with new reinforcements, and headed to_______, one of the biggest Mexican cities at the time. Pretty close to Tenochtitlan.
The ______ans possible offered Malinche a wealthy husband with lofty status if she were to betray Cortes. She, however, immediately tells Cortes, and he massacres them.
Another possibility (from the Florentine Codex) states that Cortes killed the ______ans but left Montezuma’s agents alive so as to send a message.”
Cholula
BACKGROUND: As Cortes leaves Pedro de Alvarado in charge while he goes to confront Panfilo de Narvaez, Alvarado massacres city nobles in the temples. Tensions rose between the Mexica and Spaniards, and the Mexican people stone Montezuma to death.
“__ ______ _____” (Battle of Otumba): the Spanish are picked off little by little as the Aztecs use guerrilla tactics. Then, the Aztecs trap them and massacre them. Many Spanish try to take their gold and run, but they drown and die trying.
La Noche Triste
Sent by Diego Velazquez to go find and execute Cortes. He has 18 ships and 1,000+ men when he meets Cortes in Veracruz, and despite attempted negotiation, they fight. Several die on both sides, but ultimately they join up with Cortes and go back to Tenochtitlan with him.
His men brought Smallpox to Mexico.
Pánfilo Narváez
Year of Birth: c. 1485 or c. 1495 Place of Birth: Extremadura
Province in Spain where many conquistadors were born (Cortés, Pizarro,
Cabeza de Vaca, etc.)
Fighting/Administrative Experience: Hispaniola; Yucatan; Mexico; Central America; Peru
Key Conquest: Mexico/Tenochtitlan (part of Grijalva expedition as well)
Led Western attack on Tenochtitlan and destroyed the acqueduct
Partly responsible for La Noche Triste (I think)
Lesser Conquests: Guatemala; El Salvador
Key Associates: Hernán Cortés
Highest Administrative Position: Governor of Guatemala Year/Place/Cause of Death: 1541/Mexico/Crushed by Horse
Pedro de Alvarado
