2.3 Notes Spain Builds an Empire in the New World

1. 2.3 NotesSpain Builds an Empire in the New World Mrs. Cady US History

2. Cortez’s Conquest of the Aztec Empire • Hernán Cortés led a military expedition to Mexico in 1519. • Cortez heard of a wealthy land ruled by a king named Montezuma II who ruled the Aztec Empire from his capital city of Tenochtitlán.

3. Cortez’s Conquest of the Aztec Empire • The Aztecs had thousands of warriors and Cortez only had several hundred soldiers and sailors. But Cortez’s soldiers had horses and guns. • Montezuma welcomed Cortez but was seized by the Spanish and later killed during fighting.

4. Cortez’s Conquest of the Aztec Empire • The Spanish overthrew the Aztec Empire with the aid of the Aztec’s enemies. • The Aztecs had also been weakened by smallpox and other diseases brought by the Spanish.

5. Pizarro’s Conquest of the Inca • Francisco Pizarro, another conquistador, led a military expedition to the Inca Empire in the Andes Mountains of South America.

6. Pizarro’s Conquest of the Inca • Pizarro’s forces killed the Inca ruler, and with the aid of Native American allies, Pizzaro had conquered the Inca by 1534.

7. Spanish Settlements • The Spanish called their vast empire New Spain and Jews, Muslims, and non-Christians were forbidden to settle there.

8. 3 types of Spanish settlements • Three types of settlements were established: 1. Pueblosserved as trading posts and centers of government.

9. 3 types of Spanish settlements 2. Missionswere founded by priests to convert local Native Americans to Catholicism.

10. 3 types of Spanish settlements 3. Presidios, or military bases, protected towns and missions.

11. Spanish explorers traveled through the borderlands of New Spain, claiming more land. • Spain’s American colonies helped make it wealthy as tons of gold and silver were brought from the Aztec and Inca empires. • Food was also grown in Mexico and Peru to support Spain’s expanding empire. • Many other Spanish explorers came to North America in the 1500s to find treasure.

12. Juan Ponce de León •Juan Ponce de León explored present-day Florida in 1513.

13. Hernando de Soto • •Hernando de Soto traveled through Florida and North Carolina in 1539.

14. Francisco Vásquez de Coronado • continued exploration, leading to the discovery of the Grand Canyon.

15. Spanish settlers treated Native Americans harshly, forcing them to work on plantations and in mines. • Native Americans were forced to work on plantations, or large farms, to work in mines, and to herd cattle. • Bartolomé de Las Casas, a Spanish priest, defended Native American rights.