The Spanish Conquest of the Aztecs

Question 1

Who were the Aztecs?

Answer 1

The Aztecs were originally a small group of native Americans who migrated south to the valley of Mexico.

Question 2

Why did the Aztecs neighbours hate them?

Answer 2

• They demanded huge tributes and thus drained their resources
• They raided and captured people to be used as sacrificial offerings to their god

Question 3

Describe the way in which the Ruler ruled.

Answer 3

The ruler had complete control and was considered to be a god.

Question 4

What was the capital city of the Aztec Empire?

Answer 4

Tenochtitlan

Question 5

How large was the population in contrast to Europe at the time?

Answer 5

Larger.

Question 6

“Public services were good.”
Provide information to support this statement.

Answer 6

• they were street sweepers
• they had public toilets and a sewage system
• they had a network of well-maintained roads

Question 7

True or false: The Aztecs frowned upon the idea of superstition.

Answer 7

False- they were very superstitious.

Question 8

What is the name of one of the main gods in the Aztec religion?

Answer 8

Huitzilopochtli.

( Broken down: Huit - zilo - poch - tli )

Question 9

What form did Huitzilopochtli often take in the Aztec religion?

Answer 9

A snake.

Question 10

Within religious context, why did the Aztecs supposedly move south?

Answer 10

There is a legend in Aztec culture that claims that it was Huitzilopochtli who originally told the Aztecs to move south.

Question 11

Why did the Aztecs perform human sacrifices?

Answer 11

They believed that if Huitzilopochtli did not receive human hearts, the world would end.

Question 12

Why did the Aztecs perform human sacrifices?

Answer 12

They believed that if Huitzilopochtli did not receive human hearts, the world would end.

Question 13

What happened to the bodies of the sacrifices, after their hearts had been removed?

Answer 13

Once the victim’s heart had been removed the body would be thrown down hundreds of stairs.

Question 14

What terminology is used to describe Spanish explorers/conquerors?

Answer 14

Conquistadors.

Question 15

Name 3 significant explorers/conquerors who explored/conquered in the name of the Spanish.

Answer 15

Christopher Columbus, Herman Cortéz, Francisco Pizarro.

Question 16

What was Columbus’s mission when he set sail?

Answer 16

HE set out to find the East by sailing West.

Question 17

What year did Columbus set sail?

Answer 17

1492.

Question 18

Who did Columbus encounter when they reached a group of islands?

Answer 18

They encountered “brown natives” and believed they had reached India.

Question 19

Where did the Spanish have their base?

Answer 19

The Caribbean.

Question 20

In what manner did the Spanish conquer Central America?

Answer 20

With extreme violence - they set up plantations, used the natives for labour and started exploring the rest of the coast.

Question 21

Apart from the violence and cruelty, what else did the Spanish bring with them when they arrived?

Answer 21

Many European diseases, which the indigenous people did not have immunity to. Examples of such are smallpox, mumps, measles.

Question 22

When did Hernan Cortéz land on the mainland coast of America?

Answer 22

1519.

Question 23

How were Cortéz and his men received when they arrived?

Answer 23

They were given a lot of help from groups that were subject to Aztec rule. Cortéz promised to free Tabascon from Aztec domination.

Question 24

How did the Aztecs receive the Spanish?

Answer 24

They were welcomed, and given accommodation in the Montezuma (Emperor)’s palace.

Question 25

How did the Spanish respond to the Aztec’s hospitality upon their arrival?

Answer 25

Soon after their arrival, the Spanish took Montezuma hostage. While this was happening, Cortéz returned to meet another Spanish force arriving at the coast.

Question 26

How did the newer Spanish force greet Cortéz when he returned to the coast to meet them?

Answer 26

They arrested him, because he had exceeded his authority (i.e. he did not
have the permission of the Spanish queen to conquer the Aztecs).

Question 27

What occurred while Cortéz was meeting with the forces?

Answer 27

Cortéz’s deputy ordered the massacre of many Aztec nobles, and the Aztecs rose up against the Spaniards. When Cortéz returned, Technotitlan was in utter chaos.

Question 28

What happened to Montezuma after the Spanish massacred the Aztec nobles?

Answer 28

He was killed, while attempting to pacify his people.

Question 29

What did the Spanish do after the massacre occurred?

Answer 29

They retreated after realising that they were severely outnumbered. They had to fight their way out along one of the causeways, and lost about two thirds of their forces in total.

Question 30

What occurred in 1521 in the context of the Aztec empire?

Answer 30

Cortéz returned with a larger army and captured Technotitlan. He was helped by Aztecs local enemies (again), but this time he built ships that blocked off the lake and attacked from every causeway. This led to the Aztecs being unable to receive food/water.

Question 31

Were the Spanish successful in conquering the Aztecs the second time?

Answer 31

Yes. The Aztecs were severely weakened by starvation/disease/lack of fresh water. The Spanish captured each section of the city, and then destroyed.
Upon the ruins of Tenochtitlan, Cortéz founded Mexico City.

Question 32

What happened after conquest in the America’s?

Answer 32

Land was given to troops and encomienda system was established (Spanish settlers had the right to collect tribute from the locals in the form of produce or labour).

By 1570, virtually the whole of South America came under the formal rule of the Spanish throne.
Native Americans were forced to convert to Christianity. People were tortured and burnt at the stake in the name of conversion.
During the 16th century, 20 000 people immigrated to the Americas, where sugar plantations and livestock farms were established.
Sheep, cattle and horses were imported and silver mining began on a large scale.
The local population were forced to work under terrible conditions, and a new social structure emerged. African slaves were imported.

Question 33

Describe the social structure of the Spanish colony in detail.

Answer 33

At the top: Peninsulares
- Poeople born in Spain and immigrated; filled highest positions in government and church.

One down from top: Creoles
- People born of Spanish parents in South America; owned plantations, ranches and mines.

Two down from top: Mestizos & Mulattoes
Mestizos: People born to Native American and European parents.
Mulattoes: People born to African and European parents; had rights, were educated, businessman, artisans and professionals.

At the bottom: Native Americans & African slaves
- Lowest social classes and the bulk of population; labourers on plantations and mines; no real rights and illiterate.