The Fall of the Inca and Aztec Empires

The Spanish Arrive in America

1492 the Aztec were considered unbeatable. Around 250,000 people lived in the capital. It was the largest city in the Americas. Everyone thought they could take over the world. In few years, they would learn that the people in Europe could destroy them easily.  

Columbus Arrives in America

Around the 1400's strong European civilizations had been formed in Europe. They were very smart. They knew how to trade and how to make them money. All of the people in Europe tried to reach America. The Portuguese failed but the Spanish succeeded. They took 3 ships and their captain was Christopher Columbus.  He traveled thought the Caribbean and traveled through countries like Haiti and the Dominican Republic. He returned to Spain with gold animals and slaves. He was then sent back.

Columbus Returns

In 1493 he came back to America. This time he came to conquer and he had his army to help. in 1494 they hit Hispaniola which was made of up Haiti and other countries. This was the first attack by the conquistadors or the Spanish soldiers sent by Spain. They rode on horses and dogs ran at their side. They ended up claiming the island for Spain and then set off for the Americas. Christopher Columbus sailed to America four times. He inspired many people to leave Spain and go to America. Most people left from a part known as Extrumada.  This place had blistering hot summers and freezing cold winters and terrible soil. One noble from there is Hernan Cortes.  As a teen Cortes could chose from 3 jobs. 
He could be a priest, lawyer or soldier. His parents picked lawyer but he wanted to be a soldier. He also went to Hispaniola and conquered several villages and what they produced. After awhile, smallpox swept through Cuba killing their slaves. Cortes was sent to find new slaves. He set sail for Mexico.


Cortes Invades Mexico

When he arrived the Aztec emperor totally expected him. He had a dream that told him invaders would come. He dreamed that he had 550 soldiers, 16 horses and 24 cannons. They also had some dogs. Thanks to the slaves he captured. He knew how the Spanish thought and acted. He forced a group called Tabascans to surrender. They gave Cortes a woman who could speak the Aztec language. She told them him that the Aztec didn't like their ruler which he could use to his advantage. She was his translator and helped him make alliances. While Cortes was there he brought some sickness with him and killed many Aztecs.

Cortes Defeats the Aztec

The Spanish traveled 400 miles to reach the Aztec capital. Their spies reported every move to Cortes. In 1519 Cortes attacked the capital and conquered it. Cortes took captives to eliminate the option for a rebellion and told them to stop sacrificing which would be his future slaves. They were angry and they rebelled anyway. They failed desperately and the few that remained fled to the hills. Again, smallpox came around and weakened the Aztec. Eventually, the Spanish destroyed the city.