New Global Connections (1415-1796)

Topic 5 Lesson 3 European Conquests in the Americas

New Global Connections (1415-1796)
Topic 5 Lesson 3 European Conquests in the Americas

Key Terms
• Taíno • privateers,
• conquistadors • viceroys,
• immunity, • encomiendas
• Hernán Cortés. • Bartolomé de Las
• Tenochtitlán Casas
• Malinche • peons,
• alliances • peninsulares
• Moctezuma • creoles,
• Francisco Pizarro • mestizos,
• civil war. • mulattoes,
New Global Connections (1415-1796)
Topic 5 Lesson 3 European Conquests in the Americas

Learning Objectives

• Analyze the results of the first encounters between the Spanish

and Native Americans.
• Explain how the Aztec and Inca empires were impacted by
Spanish conquistadors and European colonization.
• Describe how Portugal and other European nations challenged
Spanish power.
• Analyze the major features of Spanish colonial government,
society and culture.
• Describe the impact of Spanish colonization of the Americas.
 First Encounters

The Taínos Meet Columbus

• At first the Tainos were very friendly, but Columbus and his men
took their gold, took some back to Spain forcibly, and forced
them to find more gold
• A wave of conquistadors from Spain will do the same in other
Caribbean Islands, including forcing them to convert
Guns, Horses, and Disease
• The Spaniards are going to have many advantages over the
Native Americans
• Bows and arrows are no match for guns
• They have never seen horses before and are afraid
• They have no immunities to smallpox, measles, and influenza
• 90% of the population will die to these disease in the 1500’s
First Encounters

First Tribute to Columbus (1892) by Spanish artist José Garnelo y Alda represents the first meeting with
the Taíno. Hypothesize Do you think the encounter actually appeared like this? Why or why not?
 Cortés Conquers the Aztecs

Cortés Arrives in Mexico

• Hernan Cortes hears about Mexico and decides he wants to go
invade. In 1519 he heads over with 600 men, 16 horses, and a few
cannon
• Malinche, a young woman, joins Cortez and advises him to make
alliances with other tribes to fight the Aztecs
Moctezuma’s Dilemma
• Moc believes that Cortez might be an Aztec God that said he
would come back from the east. In order not to anger the God he
sends gifts but tells him not to continue to the capital
• Cortes will continue to the capital inspired by the gold and silver
Cortés Takes Tenochtitlán
• Moc will greet Cortes when he reaches the capital. However
Cortes will take Moc hostage and make him sign over land and
treasure to the Spanish
 Cortés Conquers the Aztecs

Cortés Takes Tenochtitlán

• However a new group of Spanish conquistadors is going to arrive
from Cuba to challenge Cortez
• There will be multiple groups fighting for control
• The Aztecs will drive of Cortes from the capital
• Half of the Spaniards will be killed and so will Moc
• Cortes retreats and in 1521 he comes back and destroys the
capital with his allies. They build Mexico City on the ruins
• Smallpox will also decimate the population like before
Cortés Conquers the Aztecs

After fighting with Tlaxcalans, Cortés and his men were welcomed into Tlaxcala. The Tlaxcalans became
allies of the Spanish in the conflict with the Aztecs.
Cortés Conquers the Aztecs

Analyze Maps Why do you think Cortés’s ships sailed so close to the Mexican coast?
 The Incan Empire and Beyond

Atahualpa Resists
• Atahualpa will meet with Pizzaro and Pizzaro will take him
prisoner. He ransoms him for a room filled with gold and one with
silver. He will still kill Atahualpa when he gets the treasure
Pizarro Triumphs
• Pizzaro will triumph over the Incas b/c of his superior firepower
Beyond Spain’s Empire
• In 1530’s Port. Govt. will issue land grants to nobles to settle the
land and share profits in Brazil
• Because there is no gold or silver they will cut and export brazil
wood, giving Brazil its name. They will turn to plantation
agriculture and raising cattle
• This will lead to forcing Native Americans and Africans to clear the
land. This will bring 4 million Africans to Brazil
 The Incan Empire and Beyond

Challenges to Portugal and Spain

• Other European countries are jealous of Spain and Portugal’s
wealth
• To get around those countries strict trading policies England,
France, and the Dutch will trade illegally with colonists
• They will also prey on treasure ships, some with their countries
consent, being called privateers
• Others will continue exploring the coast, looking for gold and
silver, as well as a northwest passage to Asia
The Incan Empire and Beyond

Atahualpa, portrayed here by an unknown painter in the 1500s, was the thirteenth and last Incan ruler.
 Governing the Spanish Empire
Royal Officials Rule the Provinces
• Spanish king will set up Council of Indies to pass laws for colonies
• Viceroys will rule in each province
• Lesser officials and audiencias (Spanish settlers) will help Viceroy
• The Council will watch Viceroy to ensure they aren’t too strong
Missionaries Spread Christianity
• Franciscans, Jesuits, and other missionaries will baptize thousand
of Native Americans, build churches, make loyal Spanish citizens,
introduce European clothing, teach new trades like carpentry and
locksmithing, and impose European culture over the native one
Regulation of Trade
• To keep the empire profitable Spain made some rules
• Colonies could only export raw materials to Spain and buy only
Spanish manufactured goods
• Colonies could not trade with other Europeans or colonies
 Governing the Spanish Empire
Forced Labor: The Encomienda System
• The right to demand labor from Native Americans in an area
• Conquistadors forced them to work under brutal conditions
• Thousands will die
• They will be used in mines as well as plantations
A Spanish Priest Condemns the Abuses
• Bartolome de Las Casas will condemn the practice
• He will plead his case to the king who will pass laws to help
• It won’t be enough as Spain is too far away and Native Americans
will be turned into peons, unable to break free
Bringing Workers from Africa
• De Las Casas will suggest bringing Africans because they would be
immune to tropical disease, had skills that natives lacked
• He will regret the suggestion. Because the demand for sugar
products will skyrocket, millions of Africans will be brought over
Governing the Spanish Empire

Analyze Maps What do all the European land claims in South America have in common? Which country
settled the easternmost region?
Governing the Spanish Empire

Wherever the Spanish established colonies in the Americas, missionaries sought to convert the Native
Americans to Christianity.
Governing the Spanish Empire

While the process of extracting silver from the Potosí mines was terribly destructive for Native
American and other forced laborers, it proved immensely profitable for Spain.
 Society and Culture in Spanish America

A Society of Unequal Classes

• At the top are peninsulares, people from Spain who run govt. and
Church officials
• Creoles are American born descendants of Spanish settlers. They
own plantations, ranches, and mines
• Mestizos are people of Native American and European descent
• Mulattoes are African and European descent
• Native Americans and Africans form the lowest social class
Thriving Towns and Cities
• Spanish settlers will live in towns and cities
• These cities are centers of government, commerce, and European
culture. They are also the center of intellectual and cultural life
• Mexico City will be the largest Spanish speaking city in the world
 Society and Culture in Spanish America
Educational Opportunities
• To have educated priests, colleges will be built. The University of
Mexico will start in 1551. A dozen colleges will be built before
Harvard makes its debut
• Women wanting an education would join a convent like Sor
Juana Ines de la Cruz who became one of the greatest Spanish
poets.
A Blending of Cultures
• Spanish settlers will eat native foods, travel how the natives
travel, and see native style of building
• Natives will learn about religion and about animals, like the
horse, from the Spanish
• Africans will contribute with their cooking style, farming
methods, drama, dance, and song
• In Haiti, Cuba, and elsewhere Africans will form new religions
that combine African and Christian beliefs
Society and Culture in Spanish America

This Mexican painting from the 1700s shows a Spanish man with his Native American wife and their
mestizo child, who is trying on a new pair of shoes.
 The Impact of Spanish Colonization

Spain Wins Wealth and Power

• Spain will become the most powerful European Nation in the
1500’s because of all the gold and silver found in the Americas
Native American Suffering and Resistance
• Many Native Americans will suffer and die because of European
conquest
• Still others will resist like the Mayans and Incas
• Others will resist by preserving their culture, languages, religious
traditions, and skills.
The Impact of Spanish Colonization

Analyze Graphs What is the estimated population decline between 1519 and 1540? How does it
compare with the population change between 1540 and 1580? Why?
The Impact of Spanish Colonization

These Guatemalan Native American women wear brightly colored handwoven clothes, helping to
preserve their culture’s traditions.
Quiz: First Encounters

When the Spanish first encountered Native Americans, they

A. set up trade colonies.

B. unknowingly exposed them to new diseases.
C. established a treaty to maintain peace.
D. initiated a civil war among Native American groups.
Quiz: Cortés Conquers the Aztecs

Why did Cortés want to conquer the Aztecs?

A. The Aztecs had attacked Spanish merchants.

B. He wanted to bring enslaved Aztecs to Spain.
C. He wanted Aztec land and riches.
D. He needed more soldiers for his army.
Quiz: The Incan Empire and Beyond

Which factors aided the Spanish conquest of the Incas?

A. European weapons and Indian allies

B. Peruvian geography and continuing famine
C. Inca poverty and disunity
D. Larger number of soldiers and guns in Spain’s army and Atahualpa’s ransom and
conversion to Christianity
Quiz: Governing the Spanish Empire

What was the encomienda system?

A. a system in which Spanish monarchs shared with Native Americans the right to
demand labor from peons and Africans
B. a system in which the Spanish conquistadors granted Native Americans the right to
demand labor from peons
C. a system in which the Spanish monarchs granted the conquistadors the right to
demand labor from Native Americans
D. a system in which the Spanish settlers granted the conquistadors the right to demand
labor from Native Americans
Quiz: Society and Culture in Spanish America

Which statement best describes Spanish colonial society?

A. Except for Native Americans, all people were equal.

B. Social rank was based on a person’s ethnic background.
C. Social rank was based on wealth and education.
D. Poor Spanish immigrants were the lowest class.
Quiz: The Impact of Spanish Colonization

What was one of the impacts of Spanish colonization on Native Americans?

A. The Maya and the Incas, realizing victory was impossible, surrendered and never again
fought against the Spanish.
B. Native Americans lost most parts of their culture.
C. Tens of thousands of Native Americans died from disease, war, and forced labor.
D. Native American culture became the dominant aspect of Latin American culture.