The Fall of the Aztecs

1. The Fall of the Aztecs Brought to you by your teacher, and guide, Mr. Enneking

2. Fall of the Aztecs • This is where our journey begins. • Present day Mexico City, Mexico

3. Fall of the Aztecs • We must go back in time, far back in time, to the year 1519. This was the time of the Aztec Empire.

4. Fall of the Aztecs • Let’s take a closer look. • http://www.ancientmexico.com/content/map/index.html

5. Fall of the Aztecs • Tenochtitlán-Aztec Capital • Man-made island in the middle of Lake Texcoco. • These islands were called “chinampas.” • City reached by three great causeways-or earth bridges. • Population of over 350,000 people

6. Fall of the Aztecs

7. Fall of the Aztecs • Aztec Emperor was Moctezuma • He lived in a palace with 100 rooms, 100 baths, walls of marble, and rare stone, and courtyards filled with singing birds, flowers and fountains.

8. Tenochtitlán

9. Moctezuma

10. Fall of the Aztecs • Moctezuma was in his palace when his messengers arrived with astonishing news: a small army of men and animals, like no men or animals seen before was now standing on Aztec soil. • If you were Moctezuma what would you do?

11. Fall of the Aztecs • Moctezuma is stumped. Here’s why…. • Prophets had said the god Quetzalcoatl (ket-zal-KOH-a-tul) would come from the east to take back the land that was his. Guess which year they had predicted his return. • Yup, you guessed it, the same year these new strangers arrive. • They believed these men to be gods.

12. Fall of the Aztecs • These men were not gods, they were conquistadors, from Spain. • Conquistador- Spanish conquerors/ explorers who sailed to the Americas to obtain gold, silver, and other treasures. • They were led by a man named: Hernando Cortés. Duh, Duh, Dunnn….

13. Hernando Cortés

14. Fall of the Aztecs Cortez makes landfall in 1519.

15. Fall of the Aztecs • The strange creatures that these men rode upon were something the Aztecs had never seen before…. Horses.

16. Fall of the Aztecs • Thinking Cortés was a god Moctezuma sent him gifts of gold and precious jewels. • This, as some highly intelligent intellectual might tell you, was a boo-boo. • Cortés was not here to make friends, he was here for conquest, and, well, let’s face it, gold.

17. Fall of the Aztecs • Cortés decides to follow the gold. His men weren’t too sure they wanted to follow him into this unknown territory. • Being the great diplomat, and leader that he was, Cortés burns his ships, so his men have to follow.

18. Fall of the Aztecs • Cortés, and his 400 men march toward Tenochtitlán. • As Cortés marches he gathers other angry natives who dislike the Aztecs. They are jealous of the power, and wealth, they also don’t like one other thing about them……… HUMAN SACRIFICE!!!!!

19. Fall of the Aztecs

20. Fall of the Aztecs • It’s a long march and Cortés and his men pass the active volcano, Popocateptl. (poh-puh-ka-TEP-tul)

21. Fall of the Aztecs • When they reach Tenochtitlán Cortés and his men are dazzled. • They see gardens floating in the lakes, houses with patios and fountains, and, in one of Moctezuma’s palaces, a private zoo. A pyramid, the Templo Mayor, towers above the scene. Tenochtitlán is not only beautiful, but clean.

22. Templo Mayor

23. Fall of the Aztecs • Cortés is welcomed into Tenochtitlán by Moctezuma. He realizes now that they are not gods, but he tries to please them, so they will go away. • Cortés has other plans entirely. • Cortés and his men take Moctezuma prisoner in his own palace.

24. Fall of the Aztecs • A huge battle breaks out. • The Spaniards have the advantage. • Why????? • They have guns.

25. Fall of the Aztecs • The Spaniards also bring something else.. • Smallpox • This is a disease that kills if not treated. Many Aztecs die.

26. Fall of the Aztecs • Moctezuma is killed.  • The Aztecs fight well, but are defeated. • Cortés burns Tenochtitlán to the ground. • Cortés fills in the lake, and builds a Catholic Church on the place where the Templo Mayor once stood. • He proclaims Tenochtitlán a Spanish possession.

27. Fall of the Aztecs • Cortés sends boatloads of gold and riches back to Spain from the Aztec Empire. The few Aztecs left are servants to the Spanish. So falls the Aztec Empire.

28. Fall of the Inca • The Incas lived in what is now Peru-So we’re talking South America. • They were an advanced civilization in the new world. • However, one man would change that.

29. Fall of the Inca • Francisco Pizarro

30. Fall of the Inca • In 1532 Pizarro arrives to the Inca civilization with 180 men, 67 horses and 3 big guns. • Pizarro captures the Inca Ruler and demands a room full of gold for his return. • The Inca comply but Pizarro kills the ruler Atahualpa anyway.  • Pizarro’s men fight amongst themselves and Pizarro himself is killed. • However, they conquer the Incan empire.