Spanish Conquest of the Inca & Aztec Empires in the Americas
Eun Young Shin
Background
In order to find a faster and safer route to Asia, Columbus set sail to the west and unintentionally came across the "New World" in 1492. The discovery of this land spread throughout Europe and a scramble for land, resources, and wealth started a race to take over the Americas.
Turning Point
The Spanish gained information about the wealthy Aztecs in central Mexico and with the hope of gaining more wealth, the Spanish sent out Hernan Cortés and 600 armed men from Cuba to Mexico in 1519.[1] Cortés presented himself to the emperor of the Aztec Empire, Montezuma II, as a representative ambassador of a king from another part of the world.[2] For the first few days the Aztecs sent out gifts to the Spanish men of food and gold but a growing restlessness urged them to start their seizure of the empire. Cortés and a number of his men met with Montezuma II and ordered him come to their quarters as a prisoner. In the beginning the emperor refused to follow but the threat to endanger his life made Montezuma II to change his mind and follow Cortés.[3] After about three weeks, the emperor was released and taken back to his own quarters to continue with his rule over the Aztecs, but the Spanish had influence over him. The main problem was in the religion and talks to convert Montezuma II to Christianity increased tensions between the two groups. Soon, the Spanish men led an attack on the empire, first killing Montezuma II and other nobles: "The Spaniards put Lord Montecuhzoma to death by throttling him."[4] The death of the emperor brought an uproar in the city and the Spanish hurried to leave the city on the night of July 1, 1520. The Aztecs discovered the Spanish running away and set out to attack them, leading to over 600 deaths of the Spanish conquistadors -- remembered as 'La Noche Triste' ('The Night of Tears').[5] With the defeat, Cortés went back to get reinforcements and arm his own men for a final battle against the Aztecs. He was able to convince the Indian allies and the Tlaxcalan warriors to stay with his men and finally at the end of December 1520, Cortés's army went on to Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec Empire.[6] Their attack continued and eventually the new emperor Cuauhtemoc surrendered to the Spanish. With the end to the Aztec Empire, the Spanish plundered on the wealth and destroyed the city while Cortés established himself as the new Governor of Mexico.[7]
The success of Hernan Cortés spread and many others strived towards the Americas to share in the wealth and conquer other parts of the land. On April 1528 Francisco Pizarro first arrived by the Inca town of Tumbes in Peru[8] and continued on to arrive at the main city of the Inca Empire on November 14, 1532.[9] Emperor Atahuallpa met with the Pizarro's men by the plaza and Friar Vicente, holding a crucifix and a breviary announced to the Incans to renounce their religion and convert to Christianity. A bible was handed to Atahuallpa: "he [Atahuallpa] took the book and began to leaf through its pages. And the Inca said, "Why does it not speak to me? This book tells me nothing!" And... Atawallpa Inca threw the book from his hands."[10] With this event, the Friar gave orders for the Spanish men to attack the Incans and the assault began, leading to the capture of Atahuallpa. The emperor was then strangled to death, ending the 300 years of Incan Empire.[11]
Effect
The Spanish conquistadors' conquer of the Aztec and Inca Empire brought significant changes that effected both the Americas and Europe. The vast destruction wiped out and brought a loss to these civilizations. Europeans started to emigrate to the Americas and settle down and an exchange between these two cultures started. Unknown diseases spread in both areas, new food and animals were introduced into society, and European dominance was set into place into the Americas.
[1] "The 'Conquest' of the Americas: The Aztecs," American History for Australasian Schools, 18 April 2013 <http://www.anzasa.arts.usyd.edu.au/ahas/conquest_overview.html>.
[2] Wood, Michael. Conquistadors. 2000. 34.
[3] Levy, Buddy. Conquistador: Hernán Cortés, King Montezuma, and the Last Stand of the Aztecs. 2008. 127-128.
[4] Chimalpahin 1965: 236 (7th Relación).
[5] Wood. Conquistadors. 76.
[6] Wood. Conquistadors. 84.
[7] "The 'Conquest' of the Americas: The Aztecs," American History for Australasian Schools, 18 April 2013.
[8] Wood. Conquistadors. 119.
[9] Wood. Conquistadors. 129.
[10] Waman Puma 1980a: 357.
[11] "Pizarro Executes Last Inca Emperor," 2013, History: A&E Television Networks, LLC, 18 April 2013 <http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/pizarro-executes-last-inca-emperor>.
Bibliography
"The 'Conquest' of the Americas: The Aztecs," American History for Australasian Schools, n.d., n.p. Web. 18 April 2013.
Levy, Buddy. Conquistador: Hernán Cortés, King Montezuma, and the Last Stand of the Aztecs. New York: Bantam Books, 2008: 127-128.
Wood, Michael. Conquistadors. Berkeley, Calif: University of California Press, 2000: 34, 76, 84, 119, 129.
Chimalpahin Cuauhtlehuanitzin, [Don Domingo] Francisco de San Antón Muñón. 1965. Relaciones Originales de Chalco Amaquemecan. Translated
by Silvia Rendón. México D.F.: Fondo de Cultura Económica.
Waman Puma, Felipe (Phelipe Guaman Poma de Ayala). 1980a. El Primer Nueva Corónica y Buen gobierno, fascimile ed. Introduction by Richard
Pietschmann. Paris: Institut d'Ethnologie.
"Pizarro Executes Last Inca Emperor," History. A&E Television Networks, LLC, n.d., n.p. Web. 18 April 2013.
Eun Young Shin
Background
In order to find a faster and safer route to Asia, Columbus set sail to the west and unintentionally came across the "New World" in 1492. The discovery of this land spread throughout Europe and a scramble for land, resources, and wealth started a race to take over the Americas.
Turning Point
The Spanish gained information about the wealthy Aztecs in central Mexico and with the hope of gaining more wealth, the Spanish sent out Hernan Cortés and 600 armed men from Cuba to Mexico in 1519.[1] Cortés presented himself to the emperor of the Aztec Empire, Montezuma II, as a representative ambassador of a king from another part of the world.[2] For the first few days the Aztecs sent out gifts to the Spanish men of food and gold but a growing restlessness urged them to start their seizure of the empire. Cortés and a number of his men met with Montezuma II and ordered him come to their quarters as a prisoner. In the beginning the emperor refused to follow but the threat to endanger his life made Montezuma II to change his mind and follow Cortés.[3] After about three weeks, the emperor was released and taken back to his own quarters to continue with his rule over the Aztecs, but the Spanish had influence over him. The main problem was in the religion and talks to convert Montezuma II to Christianity increased tensions between the two groups. Soon, the Spanish men led an attack on the empire, first killing Montezuma II and other nobles: "The Spaniards put Lord Montecuhzoma to death by throttling him."[4] The death of the emperor brought an uproar in the city and the Spanish hurried to leave the city on the night of July 1, 1520. The Aztecs discovered the Spanish running away and set out to attack them, leading to over 600 deaths of the Spanish conquistadors -- remembered as 'La Noche Triste' ('The Night of Tears').[5] With the defeat, Cortés went back to get reinforcements and arm his own men for a final battle against the Aztecs. He was able to convince the Indian allies and the Tlaxcalan warriors to stay with his men and finally at the end of December 1520, Cortés's army went on to Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec Empire.[6] Their attack continued and eventually the new emperor Cuauhtemoc surrendered to the Spanish. With the end to the Aztec Empire, the Spanish plundered on the wealth and destroyed the city while Cortés established himself as the new Governor of Mexico.[7]
The success of Hernan Cortés spread and many others strived towards the Americas to share in the wealth and conquer other parts of the land. On April 1528 Francisco Pizarro first arrived by the Inca town of Tumbes in Peru[8] and continued on to arrive at the main city of the Inca Empire on November 14, 1532.[9] Emperor Atahuallpa met with the Pizarro's men by the plaza and Friar Vicente, holding a crucifix and a breviary announced to the Incans to renounce their religion and convert to Christianity. A bible was handed to Atahuallpa: "he [Atahuallpa] took the book and began to leaf through its pages. And the Inca said, "Why does it not speak to me? This book tells me nothing!" And... Atawallpa Inca threw the book from his hands."[10] With this event, the Friar gave orders for the Spanish men to attack the Incans and the assault began, leading to the capture of Atahuallpa. The emperor was then strangled to death, ending the 300 years of Incan Empire.[11]
Effect
The Spanish conquistadors' conquer of the Aztec and Inca Empire brought significant changes that effected both the Americas and Europe. The vast destruction wiped out and brought a loss to these civilizations. Europeans started to emigrate to the Americas and settle down and an exchange between these two cultures started. Unknown diseases spread in both areas, new food and animals were introduced into society, and European dominance was set into place into the Americas.
[1] "The 'Conquest' of the Americas: The Aztecs," American History for Australasian Schools, 18 April 2013 <http://www.anzasa.arts.usyd.edu.au/ahas/conquest_overview.html>.
[2] Wood, Michael. Conquistadors. 2000. 34.
[3] Levy, Buddy. Conquistador: Hernán Cortés, King Montezuma, and the Last Stand of the Aztecs. 2008. 127-128.
[4] Chimalpahin 1965: 236 (7th Relación).
[5] Wood. Conquistadors. 76.
[6] Wood. Conquistadors. 84.
[7] "The 'Conquest' of the Americas: The Aztecs," American History for Australasian Schools, 18 April 2013.
[8] Wood. Conquistadors. 119.
[9] Wood. Conquistadors. 129.
[10] Waman Puma 1980a: 357.
[11] "Pizarro Executes Last Inca Emperor," 2013, History: A&E Television Networks, LLC, 18 April 2013 <http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/pizarro-executes-last-inca-emperor>.
Bibliography
"The 'Conquest' of the Americas: The Aztecs," American History for Australasian Schools, n.d., n.p. Web. 18 April 2013.
Levy, Buddy. Conquistador: Hernán Cortés, King Montezuma, and the Last Stand of the Aztecs. New York: Bantam Books, 2008: 127-128.
Wood, Michael. Conquistadors. Berkeley, Calif: University of California Press, 2000: 34, 76, 84, 119, 129.
Chimalpahin Cuauhtlehuanitzin, [Don Domingo] Francisco de San Antón Muñón. 1965. Relaciones Originales de Chalco Amaquemecan. Translated
by Silvia Rendón. México D.F.: Fondo de Cultura Económica.
Waman Puma, Felipe (Phelipe Guaman Poma de Ayala). 1980a. El Primer Nueva Corónica y Buen gobierno, fascimile ed. Introduction by Richard
Pietschmann. Paris: Institut d'Ethnologie.
"Pizarro Executes Last Inca Emperor," History. A&E Television Networks, LLC, n.d., n.p. Web. 18 April 2013.