04 Spanish Empire
The Spanish Empire
I. The Conquistadors
A. Hernando Cortés (1485-1547)
1. All of the New World was Spain's, except Brazil (ignoring English claims). Cristobo Columbo and his brother had established a handful of small colonies (including Cuba), but in the first 15 years or so of the 16th Century Spain didn't control much territory; this would soon change.
2. In 1519, Hernando Cortés landed in Mexico at Vera Cruz (which he founded). He had 600 men. His orders were to establish a colony; he decided instead to overthrow the Aztec Empire (all of the Indian cultures the Spanish had previously dealt with were Archaic; the Aztecs were much more advanced). Cortés burned his ships, so there could be no retreat, then he and his men marched inland.
3. Many of the tribes that the Aztecs had subjugated were eager to rebel - Cortés had no difficulty securing Indian allies in his venture. The Spanish themselves could not have defeated the Aztecs, but thousands of Indian warriors who allied with the Spanish against the Aztecs made a tremendous difference. It is possible the Aztecs and the other tribes were initially half convinced that Cortés was a god [Quetzalcoatl], but if so they could not have held that belief for long, living alongside the Spanish soldiers. More likely the superior weapons and armor the Spanish possessed (and the horses) convinced many Indian tribes that the Spanish, while few in numbers, could help them successfully rebel against the Aztecs who had conquered them.
4. After winning a few battles, Cortés marched into Mexico city [Tenochtitlan] on 8 Nov. 1519. He ruled, using Montezuma (c. 1466 – 1520) as a puppet, for about half a year, then the Aztecs rebelled, stoned Montezuma to death, and attacked the Spanish. Cortés fought his way out of Mexico (losing about 35% of his men). But Cortés regrouped (his Indian allies remained loyal), and in April 1521 he recaptured Mexico City, which this time he held. Spanish accounts of this
I. The Conquistadors
A. Hernando Cortés (1485-1547)
1. All of the New World was Spain's, except Brazil (ignoring English claims). Cristobo Columbo and his brother had established a handful of small colonies (including Cuba), but in the first 15 years or so of the 16th Century Spain didn't control much territory; this would soon change.
2. In 1519, Hernando Cortés landed in Mexico at Vera Cruz (which he founded). He had 600 men. His orders were to establish a colony; he decided instead to overthrow the Aztec Empire (all of the Indian cultures the Spanish had previously dealt with were Archaic; the Aztecs were much more advanced). Cortés burned his ships, so there could be no retreat, then he and his men marched inland.
3. Many of the tribes that the Aztecs had subjugated were eager to rebel - Cortés had no difficulty securing Indian allies in his venture. The Spanish themselves could not have defeated the Aztecs, but thousands of Indian warriors who allied with the Spanish against the Aztecs made a tremendous difference. It is possible the Aztecs and the other tribes were initially half convinced that Cortés was a god [Quetzalcoatl], but if so they could not have held that belief for long, living alongside the Spanish soldiers. More likely the superior weapons and armor the Spanish possessed (and the horses) convinced many Indian tribes that the Spanish, while few in numbers, could help them successfully rebel against the Aztecs who had conquered them.
4. After winning a few battles, Cortés marched into Mexico city [Tenochtitlan] on 8 Nov. 1519. He ruled, using Montezuma (c. 1466 – 1520) as a puppet, for about half a year, then the Aztecs rebelled, stoned Montezuma to death, and attacked the Spanish. Cortés fought his way out of Mexico (losing about 35% of his men). But Cortés regrouped (his Indian allies remained loyal), and in April 1521 he recaptured Mexico City, which this time he held. Spanish accounts of this