History

tenochititlan

Along with a contingent of native warriors hostile to the Aztecs, Cortés entered Tenochtitlán (Mexico City) peacefully and met Emperor Montezuma II (1502-1520). More than 200,000 people lived in the Aztec capital at this time, making it one of the largest cities in the world. Montezuma's civil reception of the Spanish did not last long. The Spanish abducted the emperor and attacked the Aztecs during a religious ceremony that featured human sacrifice and cannibalism. Driven out in 1520, Cortés retook Tenochtitlán in 1521, all but destroying the architectural wonders of the city in the process. The Aztecs, decimated by smallpox, soon came under Spanish control, and Mexico became the core of New Spain, a region stretching from Panama to California

bartolome de las casas

As a settler in the New World he witnessed, and was driven to oppose, the torture and genocide of the Native Americans by the Spanish colonists and advocated before King Charles V on behalf of rights for the natives. He was sometimes known as the Father of anti-imperialism and anti-racism. He wrote, "A short account of the devastation of the indies" exposing the genocide done to the indies in 1542 in Hispaniola

three g's

Glory, Gold, and God, also know as the Three G's. Together, these motivations fostered the Golden Age of Exploration

Hernan Cortés

In 1518, Cortes was put in charge of an expedition to the mainland of Mexico. This was something that he had wanted to do for many years. At the last minute, Governor Velazquez became worried that Cortes would become too powerful and he ordered Cortes not to sail. Cortes disobeyed the order and set sail anyway. Cortes and his men landed at the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico in April of 1519. He had 11 ships, around 500 men, some horses, and some cannon. He soon met a native woman named Dona Marina. Dona Marina spoke the Nahuatl language of the Aztecs and could help interpret for cortes. Gathering his small force of 500 men, Cortes began to march to Tenochtitlan, the heart of the Aztec Empire. Along the way he met with other cities and peoples. He found out that a number of other tribes didn't like their Aztec rulers. He made alliances with them, including the powerful Tlaxcala people. After killing Montezuma, Cortes returned to Tenochtitlan. After conquering the Aztecs, he renames the city Mexico City.

primary source

Primary sources are the raw materials of history — original documents and objects which were created at the time under study

aztecs

A civilization of people whose empire covered the majority of modern-day Mexico. They were conquered by the Spanish in the 16th century after most of their empire collapsed due to smallpox and political struggle

secondary source

A secondary source is any source about an event, period, or issue in history that was produced after that event, period or issue has passed

temixtitlan

After Columbus and following explorers secured Spanish control over Cuba and other islands in the Caribbean, a wave of freelance adventurers (conquistadores) left Castile and crossed the ocean seeking to gain fortune for themselves and greater glory for their king and religion. In 1519, Hernando Cortés (1485-1547), along with around five hundred men, landed in Vera Cruz, Mexico, and prepared to attack the main power of the region, the Aztec empire

cabeza de vaca

Appalled by the Spanish treatment of Indians, in 1537 Cabeza de Vaca returned to Spain to publish an account of his experiences and to urge a more generous policy upon the crown. He served as a Mexican territorial governor, but was soon accused of corruption, perhaps for his enlightened conduct toward Indians. He returned to Spain and was convicted; a 1552 pardon allowed him to become a judge in Seville, Spain, a position which he occupied until his death in 1556 or 1557

Christopher columbus

Christopher Columbus discovered an island he called Hispaniola. He also found several of the Caribbean islands. There, he tortured and killed many native Americans.

arawaks

It is now believed that the first tribe encountered by Christopher Columbus, when he arrived on the island he called Santa María de la Concepción

hispaniola

On Aug. 3, 1492, Columbus sailed to the Canary Islands aboard the Santa Maria, accompanied by the Pinta and the Nina. After resupplying, they continued on across the Atlantic. Five weeks later, they sighted land. Believing he had reached Asia, Columbus went ashore and named the island San Salvador. Because he found no riches, he continued sailing, discovering Cuba and Hispaniola, the islands now known as Haiti and the Dominican Republic. After leaving 40 men at a fort he established on Hispaniola, Columbus voyaged back to Spain. He arrived in March 1493, still fully convinced he had reached Asia

requerimiento

a document written by the Spanish jurist Juan López de Palacios Rubios to justify Spain's conquest of the New World. The letter stated that God had created the world and its people and had made the pope, initially St. Peter, the ruler of the earth. It continued on to say that the world was under the control of the popes who succeeded St. Peter and that the current pope had given these new lands to Spain. The natives were then given two choices about how they could respond to this announcement. They could submit to Spanish rule, in which case things might go well. They were promised that they would receive all the privileges due to subjects of Spain and would not be forced to convert. Or they could resist, in which case they would be killed or enslaved, and it would be their fault for not submitting in the first place

bias

prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair

conquistador

spanish conquerors who's goal was to conquer central/south america and take gold

genocide

the deliberate killing of a large group of people, especially those of a particular ethnic group or nation, such as the mass killings done on the indians in hispaniola