Conquest


 * CONQUEST**


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Conquest: Conquistador Hernan Cortes []
 * Reaction #11 Tuesday 2/21**

http://www.pbs.org/opb/conquistadors/mexico/mexico.htm
 * Montezuma and the Aztecs**
 * This specific part of the overall website is apparently "Retired" from PBS.**
 * So most of this web page is of no value any longer [15 January 2016]**


 * A. Aztec Life and Times** [7 pages in this section]

Click on "more" at the bottom of each page.

Click on the icons to get additional information

1. Introduction

2. Religion and Human Sacrifice Icons: Symbol of Mexico and Land Reclamation

3. Life in the Aztec World Icons: Human sacrifice and Patolli

4. Family life Icons: Clothing and society; Aztec diet

5. Aztec children and education Icons: Raising children and warrior training

6. Aztec calendar: road map of destiny Icon: Aztec calendar

7. Aztec writing Icon: Aztec books (Codex)

http://www.pbs.org/opb/conquistadors/mexico/mexico.htm
 * B. The Aztec Empire** [4 pages in this section]

Click on "more" at the bottom of each page. Click on the icons to get more information

1. Introduction

2. Expansion of the Empire Icons: Policy of Conquest and Tenochtitlan

3. Montezuma II Icons: Montezuma II and Aztec rulers

4. Omens of doom Icon: Omens of doom


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 * Reaction #12 Thursday 2/23**

Here is something to whet the appetite of all you athletic persons! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesoamerican_ballgame

Now begin the required reading for today's reaction:


 * Cortes and the Spanish**

http://www.pbs.org/opb/conquistadors/mexico/mexico.htm
 * The Promise of the New World** [3 pages in this section]

Click on "more" at the bottom of each page. Click on the icons to get more information

1. Introduction

2. How did they get there? Icons: Conquistador's mission and Spanish technology

3. Voyage to the unknown


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 * Reaction #13 Tuesday 2/28**

Click on the Hernan Cortes portion of the Conquistadors website. []

It is organized into 9 sections, as represented by the nine icons on the left sidebar. Each section has three subheads within it.

So, within each of the nine categories outlined below, click on each of the three subheads listed at the top of the screen.

Also, notice what you can learn from the Aztec Scroll at the top right of the screen.

I have listed my thoughts as I worked through each of the screens; use them as a springboard for your own reaction.


 * 1. Aztec Empire**: [1517-1519: First Contact]

Spanish settlement in Hispaniola and Cuba

a. A Fragile State What was the condition of Montezuma's empire? How did that condition help or hinder the plans of Cortes?

b. Hernan Cortes What does it mean by "Indies" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indies Why was gold so important to Cortes. Read the "History" section in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold#History

c. Yucatan Expedition Yucatan peninsula Veracruz Maya civilization Importance of prior Spanish expeditions.

See, if necessary for context: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diego_de_Velasquez http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_de_Grijalva

Read carefully this overview. Get the story fixed in your mind.
 * 2. Cortes Expedition**: [February 1519, Cortes defies the Governor]

Reminder to myself: use Google Earth: Cuba to Yucatan only 120 miles

Check out this Google Images page for Mayan Pyramids http://bit.ly/y22BI9

How fortunate for Cortes to come across several persons who will be able to help him speak to the Aztec chief.

Geronimo de Aguilar http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ger%C3%B3nimo_de_Aguilar Malinche http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malinche Aztec language: Nahuatl http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nahuatl

a. Expedition force This is a terrific summary of the "army" he had to begin his expedition. Let's talk about the components of this force. War dogs http://bit.ly/zx1gnX

b. Malinche What is her legacy: in Spain, in Mexico

c. Cortes route He really wanted to reach China. Why?


 * 3. Montezuma's Messengers** [April 20, 1519: A Display of Force]

What are some of the interesting cross-cultural implications in this passage?

a. Royal greeting Teudile already knew a good bit about what the Spanish had already done.

b. Montezuma II Read this article about Montezuma II http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moctezuma_II

c. Human sacrifice How would you react to something like this today?


 * 4. From Explore to Conquer**: [Cortes burns his boats]

The plot thickens. What are the facts we should keep in mind. Get some of the names fixed in your head: Quetzalcoatl Tenochtitlán (what is now called Mexico City) Tlaxcalans (one of many major tribes within what is now Mexico)

a. Stunned Aztecs Does some of this material remind you of any parts of the Bible where they talk of soothsayers, etc. helping a king interpret events.

b. Lust for gold What about the phrase "talking gibberish among themselves." Is that what most people would say about a language they don't understand?

c. Queztalcalatl Get this story clear in your head. Cortes was in luck, wasn't he?


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 * Reaction #14 Thursday 3/1**

Click on the Hernan Cortes portion of the Conquistadors website. []

It is organized into 9 sections, as represented by the nine icons on the left sidebar. Each section has three subheads within it.

So, within each of the nine categories outlined below, click on each of the three subheads listed at the top of the screen.

Also, notice what you can learn from the Aztec Scroll at the top right of the screen.

I have listed my thoughts as I worked through each of the screens; use them as a springboard for your own reaction.


 * 5. Spaniards in Tenochtitlan**: [November 1519: The most beautiful thing in the world]

This is a major city in the world, but one unknown to the Spanish who think their cities are the biggest and finest anywhere.

Try to visualize this meeting of the two leaders. Would each of them be somewhat afraid, but for different reasons?

a. Tenochtitlan How did Cortés describe Technotitlán to the King of Spain. What could we learn about several of the Spanish cities he refers to: Seville and Salamanaca

b. Spanish eyewitnesses What is important to know about Bernal Diaz del Castillo and his //Conquest of New Spain//? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernal_Diaz_del_Castillo

c. Montezuma's speech What do you make of the differences in the two versions? How do we know what the Aztec version actually was?


 * 6. Cortes Seizes Power** [November 1519: Montezuma arrested]

This section is amazing. Cortes takes Montezuma prisoner. He then destroys the Aztec religious symbols. Then he learns that a Spanish expedition is coming after HIM.

a. Spanish horror I think I would throw up if I had to watch that ceremony. How about you?

b. Aztec people Role of warriors is probably what we might expect. But interesting the role of merchants, yes?

c. Marketplace What can we learn from the details in this brief description? Slaves are being sold. Role of chocolate in the culture. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chocolate


 * 7. War Breaks Out** [June 1520: Massacre at Tenochtitlan]

It wasn't easy being a conquistador!

a. Massacre eyewitness Spaniards aren't exactly trying to "win hearts and minds."

b. Montezuma's death Does it seem to you that some of the Aztecs were happy that Montezuma was dead.

c. Noche Triste The tale of widows crying over their loved ones seems to happen too often in history.


 * 8. Siege of Tenochtitlan** [December 1520: Siege, Starvation, &amp; Smallpox]

This section is pretty amazing. Cortes is not willing to give up. So he now plots a counter-attack. Notice the use of his tribal allies. Aztecs choose a new king, Cuautemoc.

a. Cortes letter Much of what we know of this period comes from the letters Cortes wrote to the Spanish King.

b. The great rash What has been the role of smallpox in history? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smallpox_epidemics_in_the_Americas#Epidemics_in_the_Americas

Is it still a threat to us here in the U.S.?

c. Siege eyewitnesses How does this account of the Aztec hero Tzilacatzin compare to those in our Bible of some of King David's stalwarts. What is that Florentine Codex from which this account is taken? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florentine_Codex http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernardino_de_Sahag%C3%BAn


 * 9. Fall of the Aztecs** [The Last Stand: An Aztec Iliad]

What is meant by an "Aztec Iliad"?

a. Fall eyewitness It is striking that at least one person, Prince Ixtilxochitl of Texcoco, an ally of Cortés, kept his men from taking the same revenge on the Aztecs as the Spaniards did.

b. Aztec lament What is your impression of the sentiments in this terrific poem?

c. Cortes fate


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