Transcript The Spaniards and the Pre-Columbian Civilization

The Spaniards and the
Pre-Columbian
Civilization
(Aztecs, Mayas, Incas)
by: Audrey
Standards
• 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
• They were polytheistic because they
believed in many gods.
• Their leader was Montezuma.
• Lived in Central Mexico (Valley of
Mexico). They were brought down by small •www.nvcc.edu
pox which the Spaniards brought.
• Used people from other tribes as slaves an
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human sacrifice.
• Their capital city was Tenochtitlan.
Mayas
•Lived in Mexican coast (Yucatan Peninsula).
•They didn’t have much gold.
•They were polytheistic (believed in many gods).
•It was harder for conquistadors to overthrow because
there were many major cities.
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Incas
• Lived in Peru, South America in the Andes
Mountains.
• Their capital city was Cuzco.
• They were polytheistic (believed in many
gods).
• They practiced animal sacrifice, on special
occasions human sacrifice (children).
• Their leader was Atahualpa.
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Cortez
• He was a Spanish explorer and conquistador.
• Traveled with many men and horses to conquer
the Aztecs.
• The Aztecs thought Cortez was
Quetzalcoatl, a god they believed in.
• Cortez tricked the Aztecs and took
Montezuma hostage and was killed.
Pizarro
• He was a Spanish explorer and conquistador
• Traveled with 180 men and 27 horses to conquer the Incas.
• Incas were fighting a civil war when Pizarro secretly
captured their emperor, Atahualpa and was held for ransom.
• Pizarro had wanted a room full of gold and he would return
Atahualpa.
• He tricked them and eventually killed Atahualpa instead of
returning him.
Conclusion
The Spanish explorers and
conquistadors changed Central and
South America forever by forcing
them to speak Spanish and not
their native language. They also
forced them to change their culture.