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Hernando Cortes; The Life Of A . Spanish Conquistador. By John Petrolias US History, 8. Basic Information. Born 1485-Medellin, Spain Castilian Conquistador-Brought large portions of Mexico under the King of Castile in early 16 th century. Arrival In The New World.
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Hernando Cortes; The Life Of A Spanish Conquistador By John Petrolias US History, 8
Basic Information • Born 1485-Medellin, Spain • Castilian Conquistador-Brought large portions of Mexico under the King of Castile in early 16th century.
Arrival In The New World • Reached the new world-1504. • Arrived in Hispanola. (Present day Dominican Republic) • Stayed for 7 years. • 19 years old upon arrival.
Off To Cuba • Cortes took part in the Spanish conquest of Cuba in 1511. • Cubans accepted him and Cortes was appointed mayor of Santiago de Cuba. • Stayed in Cuba until 1518. • Had desires to go to Mexico.
Viva Mexico • Mexico was under the control of the Aztec Empire- Montezuma II. • Cortes arrived in Mexico w/ 600 men and a few horses. • Cortes soon learned about the Aztecs; began searching for Aztec capital-Tenochtitlán. • Along the way, Cortes met Tlaxcalan Indian tribe; enemies of the Aztecs. • Cortes befriended them; made them allies to help search for the Aztecs and conquer them.
Hello, Montezuma • In November 1519 Cortes reached Tenochtitlán; met Montezuma. • The Aztecs thought of Cortes as a god-king; tried to befriend him. • However, Cortes thought that the Aztecs were going to harm/betray him and his soldiers. • They took Montezuma hostage and demanded gold and huge ransom.
Traitors! • The Aztecs drove Cortes and his soldiers out of the Aztec capital in June, 1520 • However, Cortes regrouped and returned in summer 1521 to capture Tenochtitlán.
Sweet Victory, Yeah! • Cortes began to build Mexico City on the Aztec ruins, and attracted many Europeans. • Mexico City soon became the most important city in Central America. • Cortes grew very popular back in Spain, so he was appointed to governor and captain general of New Spain in 1523.
Next Stop: Honduras • In 1524, Cortes led a troop to claim land into present-day Honduras and stayed there for about two years. • By 1528, however, the Spanish Government worried that Cortes was becoming out of control in the Americas.
Return Home • In 1530, Cortes persuaded the king to send him back to Mexico. • The king agreed, but Cortes was sent back with less freedom and less power than he had during his first expedition.
Hola, Baja! • In 1536 Cortes explored northwest Mexico and soon discovered the Baja Peninsula. • Cortes devoted time to exploring the Pacific Coast of Mexico.
There’s No Place Like Spain • Cortes returned to Spain in 1539, satisfied with what he had discovered/explored. • Cortes died near Seville in 1547.
Accomplishments • Discovery of Hispanola • Discovery of Cuba • Wiping out the Aztec Empire • Building Mexico City • Discovery of the Baja Peninsula • Exploring Pacific coast of Mexico.