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Hernán Cortés. By Harrison Marchant. Childhood. Hernán Cortés was born in 1485 His father encouraged him to study law He attended the University of Salamanca He lived in Spain When he was 19 he sailed to the island of Hispaniola and settled in a town called Azúa. Adulthood.
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Hernán Cortés By Harrison Marchant
Childhood • Hernán Cortés was born in 1485 • His father encouraged him to study law • He attended the University of Salamanca • He lived in Spain • When he was 19 he sailed to the island of Hispaniola and settled in a town called Azúa
Adulthood • In Azúa he tried his hand at farming, trading, and mining • He became friends with Diego Velázquez the local Spanish ruler • He joined Velázquez’s expedition to conquer Cuba
Conquering the Aztecs • Cortés brought weapons Aztecs had never seen before. Like a cannon. • Many of his men in war were captured and killed. Some were used by the Aztecs as human sacrifices to the gods. • Velazquez sent a force of 1,400 men to kill or capture Cortés, because he was seeking riches and gold at Tenochtitlan without his permission.
Cortés as Govenor • After conquering the Aztecs they built a capital on the rubble of the city using the surviving Aztecs as workers. • They planned to build shipyards and harbors in order to bring the riches of the indies to Mexico and Spain • In 1523 he was appointed governor of Mexico • He planned to build a large city, known today as Mexico City.
History • He wiped out the Aztec nation • He built Mexico City • Due to his brutal treatment of the Native Americans, the king of Spain banished him from the court
Interesting facts • Soldier , adventurer, commander, and an explorer • Stories of riches in the New World fascinated him to explore new land • Cortés gave metal balls, glass beads, mirrors, clothing, scissors, knives and axes as a gift to the Aztecs • Died on December 2, 1547 at age 63. Decades later his body was brought to Mexico City.
bibliography Bourgeois Molzahn, Arlene, Hernán Cortés Conquistador and Explorer. Berekley Heights NJ Enslow Publishers, 1999. Print West David & Gaff Jackie, Hernán Cortés The Life Of A Spanish Conquistador, New York Rosen Publishing group Inc., 1956. Print January Brendon, Hernán Cortés, Chicago, IllinoisHeinemann Library 2003. Print.