Transcript (Grace`s) The Spaniards and the Pre

The Spaniards and the PreColumbian Civilization
Aztecs, Incas and Mayas
By Grace Koury
Standards
• 5.2 Identify the three major pre-Columbian civilizations that
existed in Central and South America (Maya, Aztec, and
Inca) and their locations. Describe their political structures,
religious practices, and use of slaves.
• 5.4 Explain why the Aztec and Inca civilizations declined in
the 16th century.
• A. the encounters between Cortez and Montezuma
• B. the encounters between Pizarro and the Incas
• C. the goals of the Spanish conquistadors
• D. the effects of European diseases, particularly smallpox,
throughout the Western hemisphere
Aztecs
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They lived in Central Mexico –
Valley of Mexico
Their capital city was Tenochtitlan,
an unusual city because it had
been built in the middle of a lake
on islands
The Aztecs were polytheistic
meaning they believed in many
Gods
They were brought down by
Smallpox
They used other tribes as slaves
and human sacrifice
Their leader was Montezuma
They worshiped a god named
Quetzacoatl (A pale skinned god)
public.asu.edu
Mayas
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The Mayas lived on the
Mexican cost-Yucatan
Peninsula
They were polytheistic (They
believed in many gods)
The region did not contain as
much gold
They had slaves, who could
sometimes gain their freedom
There wasn’t just one major
city, it would be much harder
for the Spanish to take over
people.uncw.edu
Incas
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They lived in South America,
Andes Mountains, Peru
The Inca capital was Cuzco
They had no written language,
but had spoken language (used
knots as messages)
They were polytheistic (They
believed in many gods)
The Inca ruler was Atahualpa
The Incas where a huge
civilization, with about 20 million
people
The Incas had been easily taken
over in 1513 by the Spanish and
Pizarro because they had been
fighting a civil war, a war when two
or more groups of people in the
same country, are fighting.
uncp.edu
Cortez
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Cortez was a Spanish
explorer and conquistador (a
person who conquers, or they
take over by force)
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To make going back home
impossible, he destroyed all
but one ship, that he sent back
to Cuba
• He traveled with 16 horses and
around 500 to 650 men to
conquer the Aztecs in 1519
• He took Montezuma hostage,
and Montezuma was killed in a
battle soon after that
etc.usf.edu
Pizarro
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Pizarro was a conquistador
and a Spanish explorer
He traveled with about 27
horses, and about 180 men
He kidnapped Atahualpa and
held him for a ransom
because he refused to accept
Christianity, and the king of
Spain as his ruler
Pizarro demanded that a
room be filled with silver and
gold and then Atahualpa
would be returned
He tricked the Incas after
they presented the ransom,
and Atahualpa was soon killed
etc.usf.edu
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How did the Spanish explorers and
conquistadors change Central and South
America forever? (Where do we see the
lasting effect of these conquistadors even in
2011?)
• Now today (2011) almost all of Central and
South America are speaking Spanish
• Today a majority of people in Central and South
America are no longer worshiping their native
gods, and are now Christian
• Most of Maya, Inca and Aztec tradition and
culture have disappeared forever…….