aztec

Noche Triste

"During Cortés' absence, Pedro de Alvarado in Tenochtitlan obtained information that the Aztecs were about to attack him. In response, de Alvarado ordered a preemptive slaughter of Aztec nobles and priests celebrating a festival in the city's main temple. In retaliation, the Aztecs laid siege to the Spanish compound, in which Moctezuma was still being held captive. By the time Cortés returned to Tenochtitlan in late June, the Aztecs had elected a new Hueyi Tlatoani named Cuitláhuac. "La Noche Triste ("The Night of Sorrows") on June 30, 1520, was an important event during theSpanish conquest of Mexico, wherein Hernán Cortés and his army of Spanish conquistadors and native allies fought their way out of the Mexican capital at Tenochtitlan following the death of theAztec king Moctezuma II, whom the Spaniards had been holding as a hostage, after the Aztec Army slaughtered Cortez's force of conquistadors. The event is so-named on account of the sorrow that Cortés and his surviving followers felt and expressed at the loss of life and treasure incurred in the escape from Tenochtitlan." Wikipedia b. This is significant because it represents the poor decisions on the part of Cortes but it also represents the Aztec victory and superiority of numbers with the Spanish. This also represents how the two sides were destined to fight with each other due to the conflicting cultural views. This event also laid the foundations for Cortes' siege and sacking of Tenochtitlan in 1521. On June 30 1520, the Spanish were forced to leave the city of Tenochtitlan after the locals expelled them. This occurred following the death of Moctezuma. The event is named so because of the sorrow and the loss of life the Spanish faced as they fleed the city. The Spanish were forced to run through the only exit to the city, which were the causeways, and the natives on their canoes slaughtered the Spanish.

Narvaez 1478-1528

"Was a Spanish conquistador and soldier in the Americas. Born in Spain, he first embarked to Jamaica in 1510 as a soldier. He came to participate in the conquest of Cuba and led an expedition to Camagüey escorting Bartolomé de las Casas. Las Casas described him as exceedingly cruel towards the natives. He is most remembered as the leader of two failed expeditions: In 1520 he was sent to Mexico by the Governor of Cuba Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar, with the objective of stopping the invasion by Hernán Cortés which had not been authorized by the Governor. Even though his 900 men outmanned those of Cortés 3 to 1, Narváez was outmaneuvered and taken prisoner." b. He is significant because he represented the military prowess and ingenuity of Cortes for being defeated and captured by Cortes. He is also significant because a lot of his men went over to the side of Cortes, which aided the Spanish in the siege of Tenochtitlan and the overall fighting force of the Spanish side. Furthermore, his arrival is significant because one of his men was believed to have brought smallpox to the new world, which led to the devastation of the native population, which in turn helped the Spanish defeat the Aztec Empire.

Nahua

"are a group of indigenous people of Mexico and El Salvador. Their language of Uto-Aztecan affiliation is called Nahuatl and consists of many more dialects and variants, a number of which are mutually unintelligible. About 1,500,000 Nahua speak Nahuatl and another 1,000,000 speak only Spanish.[citation needed] Less than 1,000 native speakers remain in El Salvador.[2] Evidence suggests the Nahua peoples originated in Aridoamerica, in regions of the present daynorthwestern Mexico. They split off from the other Uto-Aztecan speaking peoples and migrated into central Mexico around 500 CE. They settled in and around the Basin of Mexico and spread out to become the dominant people in central Mexico." Wikipedia b. They are significant because they end up creating the Aztec empire but were conquered. They also resemble the issue of Aztec/Spanish syncretism. Today, they are now catholic but have elements of Aztec culture in their religion (Tonantzin as Guadalupe), they are starting to stop speaking Nahuatl because they need to modernize and get out of poverty, and their diet has been influenced by the Spanish. Their people are in better shape than several decades ago but there is still a growing issue with retaining culture, signifying how the conquest is still taking place in Mexico. c. They are part of a native minority in Mexico but are the largest native population.

Repartimiento

"as a colonial forced labor party imposed upon the indigenous population of Spanish America and the Philippines. In concept it was similar to other tribute-labor systems, such as the mita of the Inca Empire or the corvée of Ancien Régime France: the natives were forced to do low-paid or unpaid labor for a certain number of weeks or months each year on Spanish-owned farms, mines, workshops (obrajes), and public projects. With the New Laws of 1542, the repartimiento was instated to substitute the encomienda system that had come to be seen as abusive and promoting unethical behavior. The repartimiento was not slavery, in that the worker is not owned outright—being free in various respects other than in the dispensation of his or her labor—and the work was intermittent. It however, created slavery-like conditions in certain areas, most notoriously in silver mines of 16th century Peru.[1] In the first decades of the colonization of the Caribbean the word was used for the institution that became the encomienda, which can cause confusion." Wikipedia

Tzitzimie

"star demons" that could go down to earth and destroy everything b. Usually female - sky falling - important because they reflect the worldview3 that the world could end if they don't sacrifice and it shows sexism c. Itzpapalotl - one of the chief demons and most feared in the Pantheon

Conversos

"was a Jew or Muslim who converted to Catholicism in Spain or Portugal, particularly during the 14th and 15th centuries, or one of their descendents. Mass conversions at that time took place under considerable government pressure including threat of death or great bodily harm. The Treaty of Granada (1491) at the last surrender of Al-Andalus issued clear protections of religious rights; the Alhambra Decree (1492) began the reversal." Wikipedia b. This is significant because it represents the Spanish inquisition. After the expulsion of muslims and jews, people would be prosecuted as "false Christians" which led to further religious intolerance. This intolerance was transferred over to the new world and this is important because it led to debates on whether natives had the ability to convert. This issue highlights a long history of religious syncretism between Aztec culture and Spanish. Also, conversos were always mistrusted and placed at the bottom of the social latter, causing natives in the New World to lose the former status they had under the Aztec Empire. Conversos also affected how the Spanish viewed the conquest when they arrived - already intolerant of Aztec culture.

Criollos

"were a social class in the caste system of the overseas colonies established by Spain in the 16th century, especially inHispanic America, comprising the locally born people of confirmed European (primarilySpanish) ancestry"[1] b. "The Criollo class ranked below that of the Iberian Peninsulares, the high-born (yet class of commoners) permanent resident colonists born in Spain. But Criollos were higher status/rank than all other castes — people of mixed descent, Amerindians, and enslavedAfricans. According to the casta system, a Criollo could have up to 1/8 (one great-grandparent or equivalent) Amerindian ancestry and not lose social place (see Limpieza de sangre).[2] In the 18th and early 19th centuries, changes in the Spanish Empire's policies towards her colonies (and their polyglot of peoples) led to tensions between the Criollosand the Peninsulares.[citation needed] The growth of local Criollo political and economic strength in their separate colonies coupled with their global geographic distribution, and led them to each evolve a separate (both from each other and Spain) organic national personality and viewpoint. Criollos were the main supporters of the Spanish American wars of independence." c. "To preserve the Spanish Crown's power in the colonies, the Spanish colonial society was based on an elaborate caste system, which related to a person's degree of descent from Spaniards. The highest-ranking castes were the españoles, Spaniards by birth or descent. The Peninsulares were the persons born in Spain, while the Criollo comprised locally born people of proven unmixed Spanish ancestry, that is, the Americas-born child of two Spanish-born Spaniards or mainland Spaniards (peninsulares), of two Criollos, or a Spaniard and a Criollo." d. They are important because they reflect the class struggle in New Spain after the conquest and represent how Spain wished to maintain its power. It also reveals how full-blood Spanish were in the top of the hierarchy while natives and slaves were closer to the bottom. It also reveals a new society created as a result of the conquest, a form of syncretism that occurred after the fall of the Aztec empire.

sweatbaths

A sweatbath was a building where elites would go and try to sweat off toxins. b. 1200-1521 c. In a sweatbath, elites would enter an inner chamber, which was steamy due to pouring cold water over hot rocks and herbs. Within, many drugs were taken. The goal was to throw off all the senses and then emerge as fresh and cleansed. Outside sweatbaths, prostitution would take place. Sweatbaths became a symbol for elite culture throughout the Mayan world. They would be designed to help impress visitors. They are significant because they represent a standardization of elite culture. d. Same for Aztecs

Almoravids

1040-1147 b. The Almoravids were crucial in preventing the fall of Al-Andalus to the Iberian Christian kingdoms, when they decisively defeated a coalition of the Castilian and Aragonese armies at the Battle of Sagrajas in 1086. This enabled them to control an empire that stretched 3,000 kilometers north to south. However, the rule of the dynasty was relatively short-lived. The Almoravids fell — at the height of their power — when they failed to quell the Masmuda-led rebellion initiated by Ibn Tumart. As a result, their last king Ishaq ibn Ali was killed in Marrakesh in April 1147 by the Almohads, who replaced them as a ruling dynasty both in Morocco and Al-Andalus. c. See above d. They were significant because of the power struggle between muslims and between Christians and muslims during the time. They helped the almohads gain power and become the dominant muslim influence. However, they would soon be conquered by the Spanish, completing the Reconquista of spain.

Almohads

1172-1212 b. Conquest of Toledo by Castile (1085) i. Appeal to Moors ii. Bad idea c. Almoravid and Almohad empires both help conquer Southern space i. Not tolerant to Christians and Jews ii. Iberian peninsula in several waves and want to impose Islamic law on places already Islamic iii. El Cid defeated the Almoravid Caliphate at Velencia and in 1094, taking the city from the Almoravids for himself 1. Only major loss until the rise of the Almohads iv. Spanish not used to Muslim law and reject intolerance and this is short-lived d. The Almoravids were replaced by Almohads in 1150; Marrakesh was retained as the capital and Sevilla became new seat of power in Spain e. Almohads came under attack from Iberian kingdoms and a gigantic force from Castile, Aragon, Navarre, France, and Portugal - defeated them at battle of Las Navas de Tolosa in 1212 f. Growth of identity formation - make Spanish much more radical and helped unify Spanish identity g. They then extended their power over all of the Maghreb by 1159. Al-Andalus followed the fate of North Africa and all Islamic Iberia was under Almohad rule by 1172.[8] h. The Almohad dominance of Iberia continued until 1212, when Muhammad III, "al-Nasir" (1199-1214) was defeated at the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa in the Sierra Morena by an alliance of the Christian princes of Castile, Aragon, Navarre, and Portugal. Nearly all of the Moorish dominions in Iberia were lost soon after, with the great Moorish cities of Cordova and Seville falling to the Christians in 1236 and 1248 respectively.

Moors

710, Visigothic king Wittiza dies and a noble named Roderic who seizes the kingdom, annexes southern part of Spain, which was owned by Byzantines, and persecutes other people on the peninsula i. People unhappy with him go to Julian, living in Southern Spain 1. Good relations with the Moors - "Moor" are Arabs, Berbers (indigenous North African interior), and North African descent from this era ii. Julian talks to Tariq ibn Ziyad, d. 720 (general under Musa ibn Nusair), who decides to stay in southern Spain 1. Provide troops to help b. The Moors were Muslim inhabitants of the Maghreb, the Iberian Peninsula, Sicily, and Malta during the Middle Ages. The Moors were initially of Berber and Arab descent, though the term was later applied to Africans, Iberian Christian converts to Islam, and people of mixed ancestry. c. Ziyad met by bigger army of Roderic, they clash and Ziyad decides to stay and fight Visigoths, kills the king, and annex parts of Spain i. 711 the first Moorish troops arriving and between 712-15, they conquer most of spain ii. Can't conquer Asturias; mountainous region iii. Stopped by Franks, Charles Martel at Tours in 732 d. Significance: Al-Andalus becomes large part of the Empire (Abbasid caliphate) i. King has little power over this area of the Empire ii. Al-Andalus declares independence and is based out of Cordoba - 756-1031 iii. Ummayad independence iv. Good portion of people in Spain convert v. 5.6 million of 7 are Muslim at 1200 CE vi. The Caliphate of Córdoba collapsed in 1031 and the Islamic territory in Iberia fell under the rule of theAlmohad dynasty in 1153. vii. This also helps start the reconquista in Spain and this idea of the Reconquista would help transform the culture of Spain and it would be transferred to the new world

Tariq ibn Ziyad 670-720

710, Visigothic king Wittiza dies and a noble named Roderic who seizes the kingdom, annexes southern part of Spain, which was owned by Byzantines, and persecutes other people on the peninsula i. People unhappy with him go to Julian, living in Southern Spain 1. Good relations with the Moors - "Moor" are Arabs, Berbers (indigenous North African interior), and North African descent from this era ii. Julian talks to Tariq ibn Ziyad, d. 720 (general under Musa ibn Nusair), who decides to stay in southern Spain 1. Provide troops to help b. Ziyad met by bigger army of Roderic, they clash and Ziyad decides to stay and fight Visigoths, kills the king, and annex parts of Spain i. 711 the first Moorish troops arriving and between 712-15, they conquer most of spain ii. Can't conquer Asturias; mountainous region iii. Stopped by Franks, Charles Martel at Tours in 732 c. Ṭāriq soon advanced to the Spanish mainland itself, gaining valuable support from Spanish Jews who had been persecuted by the Visigoths and from Christian supporters of Witiza's sons. In July 711 he defeated the forces of the Visigothic usurper king Roderick at an undetermined location. He then immediately marched upon Toledo, the capital of Spain, and occupied that city against little resistance. He also conquered Córdoba. Mūsā himself arrived in Spain with a force of more than 18,000 in 712, and together the two generals occupied more than two-thirds of the Iberian Peninsula in the next few years. In 714 Mūsā and Ṭāriq were summoned by the caliph back to Damascus, where they were both accused of misappropriation of funds and died in obscurity. d. He is significant because he caused the conquest of part of the iberian peninsula, which led to a series of struggles and conflict over the next several hundred years - because of his conquest, the idea of the reconquista was born and there grew a hostility between Christians and muslims - an idea of religious intolerance that would last through the Spanish inquisition

New Fire Ceremony

A ceremony held every 52 years (probably originating from the Toltecs) at the end of a calendar cycle to ensure that the fifth age of man would not be destroyed and the universe would continue. It involved the snuffing out of all lights in the city, cutting open a sacrificial victim's chest, making a fire in his heart, dipping torches in this fire, and using them to relight the city. They would hope for the coming of the dawn as priests carefully watched for the movement of the Pleiades. It also served as a time of spring-cleaning when the Aztecs would smash their pots and remake everything afresh. This is also significant because the conquest did not happen during the ceremony, which caused confusion among the Aztecs. They believed that the fate of the world was decided during this ceremony, so the fact that the conquest did not happen while it was occurring would have caused Aztecs to despair at their worldview. New Fire ceremony celebrated by the Aztecs performed every 52 years in order to renew the cycle in the time calendar of the Aztecs. It was celebrated by other civilizations other than the Aztec. It took place by lighting all the fires in the city with the fire created from the body of a sacrificial victim. This was made in order to prevent the world from ending.

Al Andalus

Al-Andalus becomes large part of the Empire (Abbasid caliphate) i. King has little power over this area of the Empire ii. Al-Andalus declares independence and is based out of Cordoba iii. Ummayad independence iv. Good portion of people in Spain convert v. 5.6 million of 7 are Muslim at 1200 CE b. also known as Muslim Spain or Islamic Iberia, was a medieval Muslim cultural domain and territory occupying at its peak most of what are todaySpain and Portugal. At its greatest geographical extent in the eighth century, southern France—Septimania—was briefly under its control. The name more generally describes parts of the Iberian Peninsula governed by Muslims (given the generic name of Moors) at various times between 711 and 1492, though the boundaries changed constantly as the Christian Reconquista progressed c. al-Andalus is significant because it represents the Islamic Spain that would rule part of the peninsula for hundreds of years - it also represents the weakness of the Spanish who were living there. Furthermore, it is significant because with the invasion of muslims grows a religious intolerance and idea of the Reconquista. Al-andalus is also significant because after the caliphate collapsed, it would turn into taifas, but would then be re-conquered by muslims and annexed into their empire, representing how the territory was always subject to strife and war.

Asturias

Asturias becomes only predominantly catholic place in Spain b. The Battle of Covadonga, Asturias, marked the beginning of the Reconquista ca. 722 i. Asturias still Visigoths/Roman catholic ii. Speaking ancestor of modern Spanish iii. Kingdom of Asturias - Asturias maintains independence at Covadonga c. They were overrun by Visigoths, who occupied the land from the 6th century, who in turn had their larger Spanish kingdom invaded by the Moors in 711 A.D., and taken by Islamic warriors, who left Asturias largely untouched, never really assimilating the region as part of Islamic Spain. In 722, the Kingdom of Asturias was founded by Hispano-Visigothic nobleman Pelayo, and lasted until 925, when Fruela II of Asturias became ruler of the Kingdom of Le�n. The two local kingdoms of León and Castile merged in 1230, and the Principality of Asturias was established in 1388, part of the large Kingdom of Castile, later to become the Kingdom of Spain.

ballgame

Ballcourt where a game was held between two teams. b. This became a key aspect of the culture during the Empire (1400s-1521), while it was developed in the preclassic and influenced by the Olmec. c. There were I-shaped courts with two teams. The goal was to avoid letting the ball hit the ground and for a team to get a certain amount of points, either by getting through a hoop or keeping off the ground for a time. A large rubber ball was used during the game. When the losing team lost, a group of captives representing that team would be sacrificed to the gods. The court would have a lot of seating and would be a spectacle for many Mayans. This is significant because it shows how a leisure culture was being developed in the classic period. It also shows how sites who had a ballcourt were very powerful because they were able to invest time and money into building the project. This game was ended soon after the conquest. d. Same for Aztec

Bernal Diaz

Bernal Diaz was a Spanish conquistador who aided Cortes in the conquest of Mexico. He also went along on multiple other expeditions in the New World, such as with Cordoba and Grijalva. Born in the early 1490s (2/4) and died in 1584. He was an encomendero and governor in Guatemala later in his life and wrote an account of the Spanish Conquest. He is significant because he gives great insight into the early expeditions to the Yucatan peninsula and of the actual Spanish conquest. He reveals the conquest through another perspective for the Spanish. His account reveals insight to the politics of the Aztecs and of their warfare and culture. His account also gives insight into how the Spanish first reacted upon entering Mexico and the New World. His perspective is one of the more reliable accounts, giving more realistic numbers, even though it was written later on in his life.

Bernardino de Sahagun

Bernardino de Sahagún (Spanish pronunciation: [bernarˈðino ðe saaˈɣun]; 1499 - October 23, 1590) was aFranciscan friar, missionary priest and pioneering ethnographer who participated in the Catholicevangelization of colonial New Spain (now Mexico). Born in Sahagún, Spain, in 1499, he journeyed to New Spain in 1529. He learned Nahuatl and spent more than 50 years in the study of Aztec beliefs, culture and history. Though he was primarily devoted to his missionary task, his extraordinary work documenting indigenous worldview and culture has earned him the title as "the first anthropologist."[1][2]He also contributed to the description of the Aztec language Nahuatl. He translated the Psalms, theGospels, and a catechism into Nahuatl. b. Sahagún is perhaps best known as the compiler of the Historia general de las cosas de la Nueva España (in English): General History of the Things of New Spain (hereinafter referred to as Historia General).[3] The most famous extant manuscript of the Historia General is the Florentine Codex. It is a codex consisting of 2400 pages organized into twelve books, with approximately 2,500 illustrations drawn by native artists using both native and European techniques. The alphabetic text is bilingual inSpanish and Nahuatl on opposing folios, and the pictorials should be considered a third kind of text. It documents the culture, religious cosmology (worldview), ritual practices, society, economics, and history of the Aztec people, and in Book 12 gives an account of the conquest of Mexico from the Tenochtitlan-Tlatelolco point of view. In the process of putting together the Historia general, Sahagún pioneered new methods for gathering ethnographic information and validating its accuracy. The Historia general has been called "one of the most remarkable accounts of a non-Western culture ever composed,"[4] and Sahagún has been called the father of American ethnography.

Bubonic Plague

Bubonic mortality (untreated) is 50-90% while the more severe septicemic plague kills 95% of untreated patients i. Didn't play huge role because by the time the plague reached the Americas, most of the people had been killed off and the people weren't largely concentrated b. Causes many sypmtoms and affects lymph nodes - some parts of the skin appear black, there are fevers, headaches, sensitive skin, etc. c. Time n/a d. Spread by rats and flees

Spanish Inquisition

By the 14th century, the relatively peaceful coexistence of Catholics, Jews, and Moors in the Catholic kindoms was over - waves of anti-semitism, ideas about limpieza de sangre (purity in blood), and mistrust of conversos led to pogroms and other atrocities b. 1478 Spanish inquisition was formally established in kingdom of Castile - Castile and Aragon were unified in 1479 c. Spanish inquisition: can't have Muslim force in the south. It was established by Ferdinand I of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. It was abolished in 1834. There was an auto de fe, meaning the proving of one's faith to the church. People who were found guilty were executed by authorities. This is significant because the religious intolerance from it was transferred onto the new world and one of the main goals of the Spanish in Mexico was to convert the natives. d. Aztecs are going to interpret Christianity through the lens of their experience and in their experience, they accept them but bring them all together: lead to a conflict between natives and the Inquisition: false converts Established by Spanish kings Ferdinand and Isabella, it was supposed to be a way to establish Catholic orthodoxy under Spanish control instead of under the pope's control. IT was meant to be a governing body to ensure that the people who converted were actually true Catholics. Originally form of the conversion and Reconquista in Spain, eventually implemented in the Americas

Cholula

Cholula massacre i. One of the largest pyramids at the time - major center of power in the Aztec Empire ii. Cortes entering the city and killing all the inhabitants - together with Tlaxcallans, who "allied with gods". b. It is a important Mesoamerican city dating back to 2nd c. BCE. It is west of modern city of Puebla. It was a very important city during the Aztec Empire and Aztec princes were anointed by priests there. There was also the famous great pyramid at the site and was the largest prehispanic structure with volume. c. The Spanish were told that they were to be massacred while staying there, so they massacred the entire population. This massacre is important because it signifies a shift in Cortes' policy towards the Aztecs. He now is intent on conquering them. This also shows how Cortes was able to unite with certain natives and fight against the Aztecs and those who were allied with them.

Jeronimo de Aguilar 1489-1531

Geronimo de Aguilar, ransomed by Cortes from Quintana Roo i. Yucatec Maya b. Escaped, with Gonzalo Guerro, but was captured again but eventually learned Maya and he lived as a slave. He was saved by Cortes and he is significant because he was a translator for the conquest. He would help translate what Malinche was translating and would translate to some other Maya sites. He is also significant because he is discarded after Malinche learned Spanish, showing how Cortes would take advantage of people. He was also significant because he, like Malinche, was able to really enable the conquest and the diplomatic meetings that took place. c. 1489-1531

Jewish Expulsion

Ferdinand and Isabella decided to step up diplomatic pressure on Granada and, when this failed, laid siege to it in April of 1491 b. Its last ruler, Boabdil, surrendered on Jan 2, 1492 c. By March 31st, 1492, the Alhambra Decree had been issued, expelling all Jews from Spain. Despite early promises of religious freedom for Moors, a similar decree was issued 10 years later for all Muslims i. Trying to make Spain more and more Catholic d. The Inquisition, the Reconquista, and the expulsion of the Jews were thereby fresh in the minds of the Spanish nobility in 1492, well after unification of castile and aragon. e. The expulsion of the Moors 10 years later, in 1502, meant yet another revival of the spirit of the Reconquista in 1519 with the Americas. The expulsion of the jews is significant because those that converted were known as conversos and it also shows the religious intolerance of the inquisition in spain. This intolerance was moved over to the Americas with the conquest of Mexico.

Velasquez

He was a Spanish conquistador and conquered Cuba and governed it for Spain. b. Noting the weakness of the natives, Velázquez authorized the importation of black slaves in 1513. He authorized various expeditions to explore lands further west, including the 1517 Francisco Hernández de Córdoba expedition to Yucatán (see: Spanish Conquest of Yucatán), and Juan de Grijalva's 1518 expedition.[1]:16,27 He was made the 1st Adelantado of Cuba with jurisdiction over the former Governorship of the Indies.[1]:126 He initially backedHernán Cortés's famous expedition to Mexico,[1]:44-47 but pulled back his support before the expedition was scheduled to launch and then that was the end. Cortés disobeyed Velázquez's orders to disband his expeditionary force and left for Mexico anyway.[1]:56 c. He is also significant because he sent Narvaez to bring back Cortes because of disobeying orders. He is significant because he is responsible for a lot of the contact between the Spanish and natives during the early 16th century. Under his guidance and authority, conquistadors were sent to explore the new world and he is important because he was able to establish Cuba as a base of operations for Spain. Furthermore, his contact with Cuba helped eliminate a lot of the natives there and as a result, helped start the importation of black slaves to work.

Francisco de Cordoba

He was a Spanish conquistador who died in 1517. He initially got permission from Velasquez, governor of Cuba, to make an expedition. b. "During the course of this expedition many of Hernández' men were killed, most during a battle near the town of Champotón against a Maya army. He himself was injured, and died a few days after his return to Cuba. Bernal Díaz del Castillo was a member of the expedition and wrote about his journey. This was the Europeans' first encounter with an advanced civilization in the Americas, with solidly built buildings and a complex social organization which they recognized as being comparable to those of the Old World. They also had reason to expect that this new land would have gold. c. He is significant because he made contact with one of the first advanced cultures in the New World and set the foundation for how Spaniards would act towards the natives and how the natives would perceive the Spaniards. He also shows how he underestimated the natives and that they had a significant victory against the Spanish. Also, his accounts are written by Diaz, who was a soldier on the mission. His mission gives insight into the early expeditions to the new world and also shows how the Spanish were exposed to a new culture (sacrifice of soldiers) and wanted to find gold.

Cuahtemoc

He was an Aztec tlatoani who lived from around 1495/7 and died in 1525 and was ruler from 1520-21. He was cousin to the previous emperor Motecuhzoma. He succeeded Cuitlahuac, who died from smallpox. He was trying to flee Tenochtitlan during the siege but was captured and asked to be killed by Cortes, who refused. He was tortured and eventually executed for allegedly conspiring a revolt from the Spanish rule. He is significant because he is the last official tlatloani of the Aztec empire and his rule signifies the end of the empire. His rule also shows the resistance to the Spanish but his ultimate defeat and resignation - his surrender goes against Aztec warrior standards. His torture represents the greed of the Spanish who initially wanted to conquer the new world for the sake of money, especially gold. Mexica ruler of tenochtitlan in the last years of the Aztec Empire. He was the leader during the Spanish Conquest. Little of known of him before his reign but he had to command a nation infected by diseases and a Spanish invasion. He is eventually killed and the Spanish take power. HE was eventually killed in Honduras after allegedly conspiring against Cortes.

Turquoise

It is an opaque blue to Green rock b. Turquoise was a particularly favored material with Aztec artists, and the use of it in mosaic form to cover sculpture and masks has created some of the most striking imagery from Mesoamerica. c. Significant because Turquoise is only found in South America not within Mexico. This shows how the Aztecs had trade routes established far across the territory of Mexico. It reveals the complexity of their trade systems and also significant because it is a valued artistic object. This also represents the growing elite culture in the empire, which might have caused Motecuhzoma to limit people from rising up in social class.

Granada

In 1228, with the departure of the Almohad prince, Idris, who left Iberia to take the Almohad leadership, the ambitious Ibn al-Ahmar established the longest lasting Muslim dynasty on the Iberian peninsula - the Nasrids. With the Reconquista in full swing after the conquest of Cordoba in 1236, the Nasrids aligned themselves withFerdinand III of Castile, officially becoming the Emirate of Granada in 1238.[7] According to some historians, Granada was a tributary state to the Kingdom of Castile since that year. It provided connections with the Muslim and Arab trade centers, particularly for gold from sub-Saharan Africa and the Maghreb, and exported silk and dried fruits produced in the area.[8] The Nasrids also supplied troops from the Emirate and mercenaries from North Africa for service to Castile. b. On January 2, 1492, the last Muslim ruler in Iberia, Emir Muhammad XII, known as Boabdil to the Spanish, surrendered complete control of the Emirate of Granada to Ferdinand II and Isabella I, Los Reyes Católicos ('The Catholic Monarchs'), after the last battle of the Granada War. c. The 1492 surrender of the Islamic Emirate of Granada to the Catholic Monarchs is one of the most significant events in Granada's history as it marks the completion of the Reconquista of Al-Andalus. The terms of the surrender, expressed in theAlhambra Decree treaty, explicitly allowed the city's Muslim inhabitants to continue unmolested in the practice of their faith and customs, known asMudéjar. By 1499, however, Cardinal Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros grew frustrated with the slow pace of the efforts of Granada's first Archbishop, Fernando de Talavera, to convert non-Christians to Christianity and undertook a program of forced Christian baptisms, creating the Converso (convert) class for Muslims and Jews. Cisneros's new tactics, which were a direct violation of the terms of the treaty, provoked an armed Muslim revolt centered in the rural Alpujarras region southwest of the city. d. Responding to the rebellion of 1501, the Castilian Crown rescinded the Alhambra Decree treaty, and mandated that Granada's Muslims must convert or emigrate. Under the 1492 Alhambra Decree, Spain's Jewish population, unlike the Muslims, had already been forced to convert under threat of expulsion or even execution, becoming Marranos (meaning "pigs" in Spanish), or Catholics of Jewish descent.

Tlaxcalla

It was a state within the Aztec Empire and was never conquered. It means the place of maize tortillas. The people were the second group of people to help settle the valley of Mexico. b. 1348-1520 c. They are significant because they were never conquered, leading to Aztecs making up the idea of flowery wars and they teamed up with the Spanish in order to help conquer the Aztecs. It is also important because most of the Spanish army was made up of Tlaxcallans fighting against the Aztecs. The Spanish would not have won if it were not for them. Also, the fact that they joined the Spanish reveals the issues of the Aztec empire and how states are not loyal to the Aztecs and believed that the Spanish would grant them their freedom. However, they were betrayed by the Sp anish after the war and conquered as well, representing how the motive of Cortes and the Spanish changed after they initially landed in Mexico. The tlaxcallans are an example of Cortes' speaking abilities and manipulation.

Malintzin

La Malinche - (1496/1501 - 1529) this woman was a figure in the Spanish conquest. She was an Aztec noblewoman but was sold to slavery between various cultures and languages. She was sold near the Yucatec Maya and sold again to the Chontal Maya and then eventually to Cortez. She becomes the translator during the conquest and replaces Aquilar. She is significant because of her status as either a traitor or not to her people. She is also significant because she helped allow the conquest to occur and she was a primary author in tricking various Aztec sites. She is also important because she was cast aside after the conquest and given to one of Cortes' generals, representing how Cortes only used people when they were beneficial to his goals.

limpieza de sangre

Limpieza de sangre i. Pure Spanish vs. not pure Spanish ii. Those who had pure catholic ancestors vs those who did not (fake) iii. Was a term used during inquisition b. Mistrust of the conversos (all the people who converted to Catholicism and they were fake-Catholics); and c. Any/all combinations of the above. This is significant because it was an underlying theme in the inquisition. This issue of purity of blood was also related to the natives in the new world, who were believed to be false converts and because of this issues rose of whether Aztecs were really capable of converting and if they indeed have a soul.

Otomi

Northern plains surrounded by Otomi speakers - probably orginally lived in Mexican plain before the Aztec arrived and were able to retain their ethnic culture with the growth of the Aztecs b. Otumba was able to provide a lot of obsidian to the Aztec Empire c. Could have read Aztec script d. Post-classic to now e. Significant because after the conquest, Spanish relplaced the language and it is important because they are part of the native population that helped intermarry with Spanish f. The Otomi were also an elite Aztec military order; was behind shorn ones but above jaguar/Eagle warriors and noble military order that depended on amount of captives i. Significant because people were honored for military prowess and the captor would be responsable for the captive in a sacrifice and there was a family relationship ii. Also they signify aztec warfare: would wear costumes and were based off of Otomi peoples

Macuahuitl

Prismatic blades were small, thin, very sharp obsidian blades made in the process of obsidian knapping. The maquahuitl was an example of a sword made from such blades. This is also important because the blades that were created were used to make a maquahuitl which would have been used against the Spanish. However, these blades are glass and fragile and would not have been very effective when used against swords and steel armor. Also, there were poor versions which had stone blades instead of obsidian. This weapon would have also terrified the Spanish conquerors and against some of the poor armor the Spanish had, would have been effective. This is also important because it was the main weapon of the Aztecs.

Percussion Flaking

Prismatic blades were small, thin, very sharp obsidian blades made in the process of obsidian knapping. The obsidian is made into a cylindrical core and blades were removed by pressure flaking. The process would only have been done by specialists, indicating the presence of craft specialists in Aztec society. Most likely, specialists were farmers who made blades in the off-season. The maquahuitl was an example of a sword made from such blades. Otumba, however, had several obsidian workshops. Prismatic blades were also used for autosacrifice, and other household activities. They were open to not only the nobility, but to the commoners, indicating the expansion of a once luxury good into the broader economy. This is also important because the blades that were created were used to make a maquahuitl which would have been used against the Spanish. However, these blades are glass and fragile and would not have been very effective when used against swords and steel armor

jaguar warrior

Significant because: "This was a military order in the Aztec Empire. Time n/a: they are significant because "The jaguar motif was used due to the belief that the jaguar represented Tezcatlipoca, god of the night sky. Aztecs also wore these dresses at war because they believed the animal's strengths would be given to them during battles.[citation needed] Jaguar warriors were used at the battlefront in military campaigns. They were also used to capture prisoners for sacrifice to the Aztec gods.[2] Many statues and images (in pre-Columbian andpost-Columbian codices) of these warriors have survived.[4] They fought with a wooden sword studded withobsidian volcanic glass blades, called a macuahuitl. They also used spears and atlatls. They believed their feathered shield had magic powers. To become a jaguar warrior, a member of the Aztec army had to capture twelve enemies during two consecutive battles. This was said to honor their gods in a way far greater than killing enemy soldiers in the battlefield. For a warrior to kill an enemy was considered clumsy." Wikipedia b. Was an elite military order in the Aztec empire and were significant because they reflect the warrior culture and the type of warfare of the Aztecs. They would not try and kill their opponents which differed from that of the Spanish, who fought to the death. Also these costumes would have been frightening to the Spanish conquerors. This was also a way for someone to increase status in society and they were granted special rights and were a form of full time warrior.

Hernan Cortes

Spanish conquistador born 1485, died 1547, and was responsable for conquering the Aztecs. b. Cortes: idea on how the Americas should be i. Encomienda: you get rights to the labor of a population and in exchange, you convert the people ii. Santiago de Cuba: idea in Cuba off to other places iii. Main purpose of the Cortes conquest was for trade - nothing giving him right to establish a settlement iv. Really good speaker v. Scoundrel: actually not supposed to leave Cuba, goes against the wishes, troops sent to bring them back and brings them into his force c. Initially came for trade and wealth in the New World - over time, he began to hate the religion and ultimately changed his mind (completed after massacre of Cholula and Noche Triste) to conquer the Aztecs. He is an opportunist and promiscuous and ambitious. d. He is significant because he was able to take advantage of the Aztec empire system and was able to manipulate the natives and cause them to revolt against the Aztecs and he was successfully able to conquer them and then turn on his allies and conquer them. He created New Spain in the New World, causing a series of reforms and conflict of syncretism that occurred. e. He originally wasn't allowed by Velasquez but just left on his own and was ambivalently liked by his soldiers. Spanish Conquistador best known for capturing and conquering the Aztecs. He was known for being reckless and very charismatic. He got indigenous people like Malinche to work with him in order to conquer the Americas. He also managed to influence a spanish fleet that was meant to capture him and return him to Cuba, and make them work for him. He also travelled and conquered areas to the south and most of the territory that is know today as Mexico. Was a lover of Malinche for a while but later ditched her. He successfully allied with the Tlaxcalans, defeated the Aztecs and managed to force the Tarascans into surrendering.

Tayasal

Tayasal - also the "place of the itza", it was a major site during the postclassic period and is located in Guatemala. It was the capital of the itza kingdom in the postclassic world. The last ruler, Kan Ek' described the site as one of the classic Maya centers. However, eventually the Spanish were able to defeat his forces and the site was captured. The site is located on an island with a small land bridge. It was easily defendable from the spanish and other maya sites. The site is important because it represents how Mayan sites adapted and changed after the classic period and how the Mayans put up resistance to the invading Spanish. Final Maya site to fall to Spanish (1697)

Reconquista

The Reconquista[a] ("reconquest") is a period in the history of the Iberian Peninsula, spanning the approximately 770 years between the initial stage of the Islamic conquest in the 710s and the fall of Granada, the last Islamic state on the peninsula, to expanding Christian kingdoms in 1492. TheReconquista ended immediately before the European discovery of the Americas—the "New World"—which ushered in the era of the Portuguese and Spanish colonial empires. b. The Reconquista is important because it was transferred over to the New World after the fall of Grenada and it also transformed the culture of Spain i. New culture 1. Strong military culture - St. James is literally guiding them to victory 2. More of a war over territory and characteristics of a Crusade 3. Holy military orders were founded such as the Orders of Santiago and Calatrava and even the Knights Templar joined the fray 4. Military orders are central to the culture 5. Mobile at all times 6. Used to mercenaries 7. Fight until cavalry can charge c. The Reconquista also gave a desire for conquistadors to conquer territory and get wealth and money for the king in Spain d. The Reconquista is also important because it transformed politics in Europe and when the Spanish were given permission to enact the inquisition - the power of Spain grew and grew during the time of the Reconquista Event that started to take place in the Iberian Peninsula in order to kick out the moors. The moors had controlled the Peninsula since 700 AD and some historians consider the reconquista began there. The small christian kingdoms to the north slowly started to gather strength and slowly started to move south. After a consolidation of the biggest Christian kingdoms, they were able to get rid of the Moors and convert most of the citizens to Christianity. The theme an ideals of the reconquista carried over to the Americas and eventually became part of the ideals in the encomienda system as well as the conversion. Lasted in Spain until 1492.

Santiago

The city has its origin in the shrine of Saint James the Great, now the city's cathedral, as destination of the Way of St. James, a leading Catholic pilgrimage route originated in the 9th century. c. Possibly raided from 711 to 739 by the Arabs,[citation needed] the bishopric of Iria was incorporated into theKingdom of Asturias c. 750. At some point between 818 and 842,[7] during the reign of Alfonso II of Asturias, bishop Theodemar of Iria (d. 847) claimed to have found some remains which were attributed to Saint James the Greater. This discovery was accepted in part because the Pope[which?] andCharlemagne—who had died in 814—had acknowledged Asturias as a kingdom and Alfonso II as king, and had also crafted close political and ecclesiastic ties.[8] Around the place of the discovery a new settlement and centre of pilgrimage emerged, which was known to the author Usuard in 865[9] and which was called Compostella by the 10th century. d. The cult of Saint James of Compostela was just one of many arising throughout northern Iberia during the 10th and 11th centuries

Mixtecs

They are "are indigenous Meso-American peoples of Mexico inhabiting the region known as La Mixteca of Oaxaca and Puebla, as well as the state of Guerrero's Región Montañas, and Región Costa Chica, which covers parts of the Mexican states of Oaxaca,Guerrero and Puebla." Wikipedia b. Goldworking had developed in Mixtec peoples in Oaxaca and acquired a good reputation. A lot of artisans came to live in Tenochtitlan. c. The origins of Aztec writing may reach back to early systems of sings and symbols at Teotihuacan and Xochicalco but many stylistic and iconographic similarities between Mixtec and Aztec writing suggest that the Mixtec script too played an important role in development of Aztec writing. d. Subdued by Alvarado and parts subject to Aztec e. Monte Alban - 900 to 1600 CE They are an indegeouns group located in Mexico that in precolumbian times numbered as high as 1.5 million inhabitants. They were colonized by the Spanish. Most known for their control of the Zapotec region, their caste system as well as their influence oer the region as one of the great ancient pre columbian civilizations,

virgin soil epidemic

This is significant because when smallpox and other diseases landed in the new world, there occurred a virgin soil epidemic, which eliminated 90-95% percent of the native populations. This was the real success for the Spanish because most of the populations would be wiped out, lowering resistance, morale, and strength. The virgin soil epidemic is also significant because it destroyed the Aztec worldview when they were being conquered, believing that their gods deserted them. b. "Virgin soil epidemic is a term coined by Alfred Crosby, [1] defining it as epidemics "in which the populations at risk have had no previous contact with the diseases that strike them and are therefore immunologically almost defenseless." The concept is related to that developed by William McNeill in which he connected the development of agriculture and more sedentary life with the emergence of new diseases as microbes moved from domestic animals to humans." Wikipedia - Aztecs also do not have immunity

Chert

Time period not applicable b. Chert is flint. c. Chert is significant because it was used for many utilitarian goods, as metal was not used by the Aztecs - only metal bells were traded into the empire.

Smallpox

Today is believed to be eradicated but time period n/a b. Smallpox i. First form 1. Incubation 12-15 days 2. 15-16, worsens 3. ~28 is when you are likely to live ii. Second form 1. ~90-96% mortality rate 2. Didn't initially hit Aztecs, but did eventually come to the Americas 3. Under the skin, not on top iii. Not "deadly" iv. Sweat baths v. Medical treatments are not designed to cope with a disease like this 1. Cold water vi. Why more deadly to natives than Europeans? 1. Hereditary resistance in Europe 2. Few domesticates - less likely to travel around in Americas/build up immunity 3. Instead of traveling West-East, it is North-South; as a result, it has to survive in many different types of climate a. Eurasia has had a lot of type for the disease to incubate back and forth, unlike Americas b. Keeps getting re-introduced/recycled in the Americas c. Patient zero i. Lands in 1519 ii. In 1520, a group comes to arrest Cortes, and within that group, someone had smallpox iii. By 1521, that person brought smallpox to Tenochtitlan and died during Noche Triste d. Main disease that helped wiped out population 60-90%

Torquemada

Tomás de Torquemada (Thomas of Torquemada), O.P. (/ˌtɔrkəˈmɑːdə/ Spanish: [toɾkeˈmaða]; 1420 - September 16, 1498) was a Spanish Dominican friar and the first Grand Inquisitor in Spain's movement to force Roman Catholicism upon its populace in the late 15th century, otherwise known as "The Spanish Inquisition". b. The existence of many superficial converts among the Moriscos and Marranos[1] (i.e. Crypto-Jews),[2]who had found it more socially, politically and economically expedient to join the Catholic fold, was perceived by the Spanish monarchs of that time, principally King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, as a threat to the religious and social life of Spain.[3] This led Torquemada, who himself had conversoancestors,[citation needed] to be one of the chief supporters of the Alhambra Decree that expelled the Jewsfrom Spain in 1492.

Reduccion

Used during years after the conquest b. 1571 inquisition in Mexico City but exempt native peoples because they don't view indigenous people as equal to Spanish people i. Reduccion: resettlement: do this because: 1. Harder to reorganize 2. Concentrate population - easier to manage ii. Why is this bad? 1. Moving people away from the burials of their ancestors - way to seek legitimacy to the land 2. Taken away from the one place you have left c. Now expected to pay tribute to the Spanish population - smaller population and charged same amount as before - economic enterprises (mining, haciendas, factories, etc.)

Venus

Venus (Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli) b. Skybearer and to the east - either night star or morning star - more important as morning star c. Appears in same spot every 8 years d. One of most feared gods: sign for war when it rises: tries to kill arrogant sun god, Tonatiuh - misses but early morning rays (as atlatl darts) were extremely dangerous e. The Aztecs had gods that would hold up the world, like Atlas in Greek mythology and also the skybearers reflect the pessimism f. Also important because during rituals, people dressed as Venus morning star, with masks of turquoise - blue is the hottest part of a flame - representing, fire, age and time

Quetzalcoatl

Was a Teotihuacan god, related to wind and Venus. b. Like Tlaloc, Quetzalcoatl existed from when the Aztecs came into Mexico until they were conquered by the Spanish (1200-1521). c. Quetzalcoatl, which means "feathered serpent" was a key god in the Teotihuacan religion. In the city, there is a major temple dedicated to him, on which both he and Tlaloc are depicted. For Teotihuacan, he was the god of sacrifice. However, he takes a peaceful role for the Aztecs. In Aztec mythology, he was tricked by priests into getting drunk and embarrassing himself or sleeping with his sister, and as a result, he lit himself on fire. He is against human sacrifice. He is also important because the Aztecs believed that Cortes and the Spanish were Quetzalcoatl and his followers returning and they would rule over the Aztecs. This idea was probably created after the conquest actually occurred, which represents how the Aztecs were trying to cope with their loss and the destruction of their empire.

Atlatl

Was a stick with a notched end that would hold a javelin/dart and could be thrown at a great distance from far away. b. Created around Neolithic period but was not introduced to the Aztec when they moved into the basin of Mexico around the late 12th, early 13th century c. Teotihuacan was very influential to the Aztecs. The Aztecs not only adopted some of their gods and other aspects of culture, but they even adopted tools for war, such as the atlatl. The atlatl was a primary tool in war for the Aztecs. It also shows how certain aspects of Teotihuacan culture were present in the Aztec world. Furthermore, it shows how by using the atlatl, one is able to aim at a target from a relatively safe range. It was also important because it was used to scatter targets, and the Spanish would have fought against this weapon when they encountered the Aztecs. However, this was not very effective at close range, it was only used to scatter the enemy. There would have been many darts initially in a battle between the Spanish and Aztecs.

Motecuhzoma II (1466-1520)

Was the Aztec tlatoani who was in power during first contact i. Motecuhzoma invites them in and there are odd behaviors of the king ii. Receiving them amicably, if reluctantly, the Spanish and Tlaxcallans, housing them in his father's palace 1. Keep an eye on them 2. Maybe hospitable 3. Can't beat them, give them gifts, treat them well, and they will leave iii. Getting himself taken hostage (a more polite term might be "house arrest") iv. Going on hunting trips with Cortes 1. Hunting is a human universal in terms of elite culture v. Playing games of chance (like patolli) with his captors vi. Growing ever less oblivious about the danger his captors posed to the empire vii. Killed during Noche Triste b. He was superstitious, fatalistic, indecisive, not confident, passive, and abolished class rising, harsh on vassals, sends magicians to Spanish c. Viewed badly but enemies respect him and fear him d. He is also significant because he adhered to normal Aztec ruling patterns: Spaniard anomaly, thought they would just destroy temple, give gifts to invaders, are allowed to stay in power if loyal, follow signs from the gods e. A lot of the blame placed on him is because the broken spears were written after the conquest, so they looked to him for the blame of the conquest but he was only acting in traditional customs He was the 9th tlatoani and ruler of Tenochtitlan. He has been deemed a bad leader by many historians for trying to have diplomatic relationships with the Spanish. He acknoweledged the Spanish and allowed them in the city of Technochtitlan while at the same time providing gifts to the rulers. First contanct with the Spanish happened under his command. Under his command, he led the Aztec Empire to its maximum extent.

Tzintzuntzan

Was the Tarascan capital meaning "place of hummingbirds" b. The major temple there (platform with five keyhole-shaped temples) dwarfed the Templo Mayor of the Aztecs c. This site represented the growth of other civilizations in line with the growth of the Aztecs d. Probably was founded around 1450 and submitted to Spanish without a fight e. Significant because: "Even before the Spanish themselves arrived, epidemics of their diseases such as smallpox and measles had severely affected the Purépecha population, and likely killed the emperor. A new, young emperor was hastily installed, who had little political experience and hoped to work around Spanish rule, and avoid Tenochtitlán's fate of utter destruction. This hope ended when the Spanish burned him at the stake. Tzintzuntzan was made the first capital of the new Spanish province of Michoacán in the 1520s, and Franciscan friars arrived here to evangelize the Purépecha people. Their monastery complex was built in part from stones taken five yácata pyramids of the ceremonial center. By the 1530s, the capital had been moved to Pátzcuaro and Tzintzuntzan's population plummeted until it was all but abandoned." Wikipedia This city was known for being an enemy of the Aztecs, but after seeing what the Spanish did to Tenochtitlan, they decided to surrender without a fight. This city was the capital of the Tarascans. The city was eventually deserted and the temples and pyramids destroyed.

Encomienda

Was used from contact to 1730 b. Was significant because the Aztecs were accustomed to adopt aspects of other religions, so the converting that was happening was not the way the Spanish wanted. This led to a syncretism of Aztec and Spanish religion even though today Mexicans call themselves catholic c. Encomienda system: labor from indigenous peoples in return for converting them i. Quickly baptize and then make them work ii. Not a strong relation to Christianity iii. End up with a piecemeal conversion - people start interpreting Catholicism in their own way iv. In practice, encomienda turns into serfdom/slavery

Champoton

a. Was a postclassic Maya site located at the bottom of modern Mexico near the gulf. b. The Battle of Champoton was the first major engagement between the Spanish and the peoples of Mesoamerica - the Maya there defeated Hernandez Cordoba; most of his men were immediately killed or captured c. Champoton ultimately fell to the Spanish later in the 16th century, during the Conquest of Yucatan d. In addition to most being captured and killed, there are some survivors - result in tales of gold - civilization to the west that had lots of gold. e. This is also significant because it shows how the Spanish were largely unprepared for the battles they were about to face and it shows how there was already hostility between the natives and the Spanish.

Pedro de Alvarado

panish conqueror who was able to kill Tecum Uman and subdue the K'iche'. After the K'iche' he defeats many other Mayan sites and ultimately becomes the governor of Guatemala. However, in 1541, he dies fighting a revolt. The conquest of the Mayans was not successful until Alvarado. He used treachery and lies in order for Mayans to fight against each other, which ultimately led to his success. He made the Spanish capital of Iximche'. He represents the end of postclassic Maya politics but not culture. He also starts the syncretism of Spanish beliefs/christianity into Mayan religion. He is also responsible for the Noche Triste while Cortes was away from Tenochtitlan. He slaughtered Aztec nobles and participants of a religious festival. During this event, Motecuhzoma was killed and the Spanish had to flee. This is significant because it caused the Spanish to change motives and then return to Tenochtitlan to conquer it.