Chapter 3 - The First Global Age: Europe, the Americas, Africa

1492 – 1750

Setting the Scene: Spanish soldiers who reached the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan (tānōchtētlän´) in 1519 were amazed by its size and splendor. Within a few years, the Spanish had captured and destroyed the Aztec capital. In its place, they built a new capital, Mexico City, that became the heart of the Spanish empire in the Americas.

Section 1 – Conquest in the Americas

I. First EncountersIn 1492, Christopher Columbus landed inthe islands now called the West Indies

I. First EncountersHe encountered the Taino people who were friendly and generous toward the Spanish

I. First EncountersSpanish conquistadors in search of gold came next and friendly relations deteriorated

I. First EncountersConquistadors seized the Tainos’ gold ornaments and then demanded more

I. First EncountersThey forced the Tainos to convert to Christianity under the threat of death

I. First Encounters

The Europeans brought diseases such as smallpox, measles, and influenza to which the Natives had no natural immunity

I. First Encounters

These diseases spread rapidly and wiped out as much as 90% of the population within 100 years

II. The Conquistadors

Conquistadors were attracted by the promise of riches and full of religious zeal

A. Cortes in Mexico

In 1519, Hernan Cortes landed on the coast of Mexico with soldiers, horses, and cannons

A. Cortes in Mexico Heading to Tenochtitlan, Cortez was helped by Malinche, an Indian woman who served as his translator and adviser

A. Cortes in Mexico Many conquered peoples hated the Aztecs. Malinche helped Cortes form alliances to fight the Aztecs

B. Moctezuma's Dilemma

Moctezuma thought Cortes might be the god-king Quetzalcoatl returning from the east

Quetzalcoatl ("feathered snake") is the Aztec name for the Feathered-Serpent deity of ancient Mesoamerica, one of the main gods of many Mexican and northern Central American civilizations.

C. Fall of Tenochtitlan

At first, Moctezuma welcomed Cortes to his capital but problems soon arose

C. Fall of TenochtitlanThe Aztecs drove the Spanish from the city and Moctezuma was killed in the fighting

C. Fall of Tenochtitlan

In 1521Cortes and his allies captured and demolished Tenochtitlan, and later built Mexico City

D. Pizarro in Peru

In 1532, Francisco Pizarro arrived in Peru just after the Incan ruler Atahualpa won a bloody civil war

D. Pizarro in Peru Pizarro defeated the Incas and captured Atahualpa. The Incas paid a huge ransom but the Spanish killed him anyway

The Inca gave Pizarro 24 tons of gold and silver as a ransom for Athualpa, but he was not released.  The Spanish later tied him to a stake and strangled him.

III. Reasons for Victory A. Superior military technology – horses, muskets and cannons; metal helmets and armor that provided protection

B. Different tactics - The Aztec fought to take captives for sacrifice while the Spanish fought to kill their enemies on the battlefield

C. The Spanish had allies that provided Cortes and Pizarro with much of their fighting forces

D. European diseases killed many and caused some to feel that their gods were less powerful than the Christian god