Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortés and his men landed on the Mexican coast on April of 1519. Montezuma II
What did Cortés give Moctezuma's welcome?
He bowed his head low, stretched as far as he could, and stood firm. Then he addressed him in these words: “ Our lord, you are very welcome in your arrival in this land . You have come to satisfy your curiosity about your noble city of Mexico.
Why did the Aztecs welcome Cortés?
They did not attend the sacrifice ceremonies that were given in their honor. The Aztecs decided it was time for the Spanish to leave . They did not want to kill them because they might be gods after all, but the Aztecs wanted them to move along. The Spanish were secretly glad to leave.
Did the Aztecs give Cortés gold?
Cortes Sends Treasure to the King
The Spanish offered to ally themselves with these disgruntled vassals, who agreed and often gave them gifts of gold, feathers, and cotton cloth. ... He did this because he had been made to believe that the Spanish suffered from an illness which could only be cured by gold.
Why did Montezuma welcome Cortés and give him lavish gifts?
Cortés ignored Velázquez and set out. On arrival he established a settlement (now Veracruz) and made local allies. ... It is thought that Cortés' arrival coincided with an Aztec prophecy about a white-skinned god arriving from the east , which would explain why Montezuma welcomed Cortés and gave him lavish gifts.
What was the Aztecs writing called?
The Aztecs didn't have a writing system as we know it, instead they used pictograms , little pictures that convey meaning to the reader. Pictography combines pictograms and ideograms—graphic symbols or pictures that represent an idea, much like cuneiform or hieroglyphic or Japanese or Chinese characters.
Did the Aztecs sacrifice Spaniards?
Skeletons found at an archeological site show that Aztecs captured, sacrificed and partially ate several hundred people traveling with invading Spanish forces in 1520 .
What did to eat dirt represent in Aztec cultures?
As he conveyed Montezuma's will, Teudile put a damp finger to the earth and raised it to his lips (“to eat dirt” was a gesture of respect in Aztec diplomacy), then he lit incense, and, to the Spaniards' surprise, bled himself and offered them his blood on straws.
Why do they call it Montezuma's revenge?
Named for Montezuma or Moctezuma II (c. 1466 – 1520), the last Aztec ruler before the empire was conquered by the Spanish. The condition is seen as “ retribution” for the slaughter and enslavement of the Aztec people by Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés on 13 August 1521.
What did the Spanish have that the Aztecs didn t?
The Spanish brought chickenpox, smallpox, measles, mumps, and rubella to the new world. These diseases killed 75% of the Native Americans. ... The advantages that the Spanish had over the Aztec were 16 horses, guns, armor, formed alliances, and diseases, steel.
Did Aztecs value gold?
The Aztecs valued using gold for plates, ornaments, medals, and other decorations . ... They loaded themselves with treasure and quietly trudged their way out until Aztec warriors caught them and descended upon the Spaniards and their allies.
Did the Aztecs have the most gold?
During the time of the success of their empire, the Aztec had significantly more gold and of a superior “quality” than most of the other communities and kingdoms in the surrounding areas. It is believed that they got most of the gold from the areas they occupied and trade some for other items that they produced .
What did the Aztecs value?
One of the major things that the Aztecs valued was humans to sacrifice to their gods . The Aztecs believed that the gods needed to be fed human blood as a way to give them strength to keep the universe intact. Because they needed this, it was important to get human sacrifices.
What factors enabled the Spanish to defeat the Aztecs?
- Superior Weapons. Spanish weaponry was far superior to anything used by the Aztecs or Incas.
- Alliances and Experience. The invading Spanish forces also took advantage of internal divisions within the Aztec and Inca empires.
- The Power of Horses.
- Deadly Disease.
How many Aztecs were killed by the Spanish?
More than 3 million Aztecs died from smallpox, and with such a severely weakened population, it was easy for the Spanish to take Tenochtitlán.
How did Cortés conquered the Aztecs?
Known to the Spanish as La Noche Triste, or “the Night of Sadness,” many soldiers drowned in Lake Texcoco when the vessel carrying them and Aztec treasures hoarded by Cortés sank. ... During the Spaniards' retreat, they defeated a large Aztec army at Otumba and then rejoined their Tlaxcaltec allies.
