The Conquistadors Flashcards
(29 cards)
What was the social structure of the Aztecs?
The Aztecs had a complex society with a king and priests at the top.
What materials did the Aztecs primarily use for weapons and tools?
Most weapons and tools were made from wood, stone or copper.
Which animals were not present in the Americas before European contact?
Horses, cattle, sheep, pigs or goats.
What types of meat did the Aztecs consume?
Turkeys, dogs, and guinea pigs.
Who was the most important god worshipped by the Aztecs?
The sun god, Huitzilopochtli.
What did the Aztecs believe they needed to do to keep Huitzilopochtli strong?
They believed he had to be nourished by human blood sacrifice.
When did Cortés land in Mexico?
In February 1519.
How many soldiers and horses did Cortés bring with him?
500 soldiers and 13 horses.
What did Cortés do to demonstrate there was no going back after landing?
He had the ships burned.
Why did many native peoples help Cortés?
The Aztecs’ brutal rule encouraged them to help Cortés.
What was the initial reaction of the Aztecs when Cortés arrived?
They took him for a god and worshipped him.
What actions did the Spaniards take after arriving in Tenochtitlan?
They began to steal gold and captured Montezuma.
What happened to Montezuma during the revolt against the Spaniards?
He was killed in the violence.
How long did Cortés lay siege to Tenochtitlan?
For three months.
What did Cortés construct to aid in the siege of Tenochtitlan?
A small fleet of ships that could cross the lake.
What happened to the Aztec people when the city fell?
The people were massacred.
What did Cortés do after being appointed governor of New Spain?
He built his capital on the site of Tenochtitlan.
Where was the Incan empire based?
In Cusco.
How did the Incas keep records without a written script?
Using a system of knotted string.
Who was Francisco Pizarro?
A Spanish conquistador who conquered the Incas.
What was Pizarro’s background before becoming a conquistador?
He was born into poverty and received no education.
What did Pizarro do to gain an excuse to attack the Incas?
He had a priest approach Atahualpa with a bible.
What was Atahualpa’s response to the bible?
He threw it aside.
What was the outcome of the battle between Pizarro’s men and the Incas?
The Spanish won despite being vastly outnumbered.
