Aztecs Stage 5 Comprehension - Spanish Conquistadors - Comprehension Pack.pdf

STAGE 5 Unit focus: Aztecs Text focus: Information Text Spanish Conquistadors In the 1500s, many European sailors were travelling the world trying to take control of other count...

STAGE 5 Unit focus: Aztecs Text focus: Information Text Spanish Conquistadors In the 1500s, many European sailors were travelling the world trying to take control of other countries for their own kings and queens. The British Empire grew during the period, and the Spanish were looking to grow as well. One of their most famous explorers was a man named Hernan Cortés. Cortés began his exploration of the area around 1519 CE. By 1521, he had conquered the Aztecs and taken control of the area, but it wasn’t smooth sailing. Nor was it a case of just being the Spanish versus the Aztecs. The Aztecs (or the Mexica as they referred to themselves) weren’t the only civilisation in the area. There were many others, including the Tlaxcaltecs and the Tetzcocans. Back in 1428, the Tetzcocans had created an alliance with the people of Tenochtitlan (who we refer to as the Aztecs) and the people of Tlacopan. The agreement was to help each other with trade and not attack one another. None of them was very good at sticking to the agreement. The Aztecs spent a lot of time at war with other city-states in the area. It is impossible to know now who started the troubles, but over the next hundred years or so, the city-states fell out with each other, and the Aztecs became ever more powerful. This made them a target for the other city-states. When Cortés arrived in 1518, he found a lot of local tribes who were prepared to fight alongside him to take down the Aztecs. It wasn’t just the enemies of the Aztecs that joined forces with the Spanish. Local cities that had to pay tribute to the Aztecs were fed up, as well. They wanted to keep more of their crops, gold and people and the Spanish made promises that they could. The Aztec leader at the time was a man named Montezuma II (also known as Moctezuma II). He refused to meet with Cortés and told him to leave the country. It was hard for Cortés to make any progress because they had no way to speak the native Nahuatl language. At some point, the Spanish captured a young woman named Doña Marina. A ding ro Rea und all resources ©2023 Literacy Shed e um C u r r ic ul Th http://www.literacyshedplus.com She had been kidnapped by a Maya tribe as a child and spoke Maya, Nahuatl and Spanish. Fearing for her life, she agreed to help Cortés reach an agreement with Montezuma. Spanish law said that Cortés must take Montezuma captive as soon as he entered the city, and Spanish sources say that this is what happened. However, Aztec sources seem to say that Montezuma wasn’t taken captive until much later. Either way, while Cortés was in Tenochtitlan with Montezuma, Aztec warriors attacked his allies. Cortés fled to the battle, and the Aztecs kicked the Spanish out of their city. When he returned, it was with the support of many other local tribes. During the ensuing attack, Montezuma was killed and a new leader named. He didn’t lead for long, however; Spanish victory was won the following year. Many Aztecs that weren’t slaughtered died from diseases that the Spanish brought with them. Mexico was named New Spain and became a symbol of the Spanish conquest SUMMARY FOCUS 1. How was Cortés helped in his invasion? 2. Why might the Aztecs have regretted being so aggressive in the past? 3. What happened immediately after Cortés was finally allowed into Tenochtitlan? 4. Why might Doña Marina be considered a traitor? Do you agree or disagree with this? Why? VIPERS QUESTIONS V If the Aztecs were a “target” for other city-states, what does it mean? I Why might Montezuma have refused to meet Cortés? V Use a dictionary or thesaurus to find a synonym for “ensuing”. V Which word in the text describes the Spanish killing the Aztecs without mercy? R Other than the Spanish, what killed many Aztecs? all resources ©2023 Literacy Shed http://www.literacyshedplus.com