Building an Empire European Colonization of

the Americas Clear Creek Amana 8th Grade Social Studies

Learning Goals Where did the Spanish settle Why did they settle it. Consequences of settlement.

Spanish Conquistadors

Conquistadors = Conqueror Spanish soldiers and explorers.

Motives of Conquistadors Wealth Power Prestige Spreading Christian Religion Increasing Spanish Trade

Spanish Conquistadors receive permission to establish settlements in the Americas.

In return Spain gets 1/5 of all gold or treasure captured.

Conquest of the Aztecs

Conquistador: Hernado Cortes, 1519 “We Spaniards know a sickness of the heart

that only Gold can cure”. Motivation: Gold and Wealth.

Cortes and Moctezuma

Moctezuma II: Ruler of the Aztec Empire.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LT9YKjn67Og

Moctezuma II believed Cortes was a God.

Allowed Cortes into Tenochtitlán.

Taken prisoner by Cortes and his men.

Causes of the Defeat of the Aztecs

Alliances The Spanish had made allies in the region who gave them supplies, information, and warriors. (Tlaxcala)

Motivation: Revenge Privileged status Survival

Causes of the Defeat of the Aztecs

Weapons The Spanish had better weapons than the Aztecs.

They had cannons, armor, swords, and horses that the Aztecs did not have.

Causes of the Defeat of the Aztecs

Geography: The Spanish were able to cut off the capital city. The people had no food or water, so many Aztecs died of starvation.

Causes of the Defeat of the Aztecs

Disease The Spanish had unknowingly brought deadly diseases such as smallpox to the Americas.

Cuitlahuac: Aztec ruler after Moctezuma

Died of Smallpox

Conquest of the Incas

Francisco Pizarro: 1532 “There lies Peru with

its riches; here Panama with its poverty. Choose each man what best becomes a brave Castilian”.

Motivation: Gold, Wealth

Fall of the Incas Superior Weapons and Horses. Disease. Civil War among the Incas. (Hascuar v.

Atahualpa).

Dividing the Land Originally conquistadors governed the land

they conquered. Proved to be poor rulers.

Spanish colonies divided between two colonies New Spain and Peru

Viceroy Person who rules on behalf of King.

Types of Settlement.

Pueblos: towns Center for farming and trade

Presidios Forts where soldiers lived

Society in Spain Divided into four social classes Penisulares: Born in Spain, held the highest jobs

in government and the Church. Creoles: people born in America to Spanish

Parents( Educated, worked in Universities and Law.

Mestizos: people with mixed Spanish and Indian background.( Farmers, Carpenters, Tailors)

Natives: people with 100% native background- treated as a conquered people

The Encomiendia System

Spanish gave Spanish Nobility a specific number of natives to look after. Instruct them on the Spanish language. Protect natives from warring tribes. Teach them Christianity.

In return, Spanish could extract gold, silver or other products like corn, chickens or wheat.

End of Encomiendia Came to an end when Spanish missionaries

began to protest the abuse of Natives. Replaced with a new system where natives

where directly employed.