4-12-2013-ArchClashCult-Aztec-Spanish - Emmaf.org

Spanish vs. Aztec 

The Conquest of Tenochtitlan 

Dr. Lorenzo 

Friday, April 12, 13 

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Today’s Topics 

Spain, 1519-1521 

Charles V 

Hernán Cortés 

Mexico 

The Aztec Empire 

Offerings and Rituals 

Not so bloody 

Sacrifices and Rituals 

Bloody...very, very bloody 

Hernan Cortes, 1521 

Results 


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Spain,1519-1521 

Charles I rules as the first king of Spain which on the Iberian peninsula 

included the territories of first and most important, Castille and Aragon, 

and then secondarily, Granada and Navarre. 

Charles V, this painting 

dates to1600-1605. 


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Spain,1519-1521 

The first king of Spain, Charles I's european territories (red, purple, orange, yellow 

and buff) surrounding France (Spanish colonial empire not shown). At this time the 

Kingdom of Spain is a superpower. 

Navarre 

Castille 

Granada 

Aragon 


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Spain, 1519-1521 

Charles I is not only Spain’s first king but he is also Charles V the Holy Roman 

Emperor. Therefore, Charles V and his people are very, very, Catholic. 

Charles V wearing a 

victory wreath 

Charles V wearing a 

Roman cuirass 

Coin of Charles V as 

Holy Roman Emperor 


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Spain, 1519-1521 

In February 1519, a rogue Spanish conquistadore Hernán Cortés lands on the 

Yucatan peninsula and begins a chain events leading him to the Aztec empire. 

A contemporary 

portrait of Hernán 

Cortés. 


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Mexica 

a people who immigrated into the Valley of Mexico in Central Mexico in ca. 1248 

Tenochtitlan 


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Aztec 

a modern umbrella term used to refer to several ethnic groups including the 

Mexica who claimed heritage from the same mythic place of origin, Aztlan. 

Tenochtitlan 


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The Aztec: the Early Years 

From 1248 until 1427 the Mexica competed and fought for political dominance 

with local peoples in the Valley of Mexico. In 1427 they formed a triple alliance. 

Tenochtitlan 


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By 1428 the triple alliance of the city-states Tenochtitlan, the capital 

of the Mexica, Texcoco and Tlacopan had defeated its most powerful 

enemy. Soon after Tenochtitlan and the Mexica became the dominant 

power. 


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At it greatest extent the empire stretched from the Gulf of Mexico 

to the Pacific Ocean, and from central Mexico down to Guatemala. 

Olmec Civilization 


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Offerings and Ritual: Not so Bloody 

A non-lethal oblation ritual in which bread and wine are offered from the 

16th-century Primeros Memoriales Codex. 

A non-lethal offering of fire from the same codex as above. 


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Sacrifices and Ritual: Very Bloody 

Aztec ritual human sacrifice portrayed in 

Heart the 16th-century Codex Magliabechiano. Holy Shrine 

Priest 

Sacrificial 

Victim 

Pyramid 

Temple 


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Sacrifices and Ritual: Very Bloody 

A ritual human sacrifice scene and examples 

of bloodletting from post-Columbian codex. 

Bloodletting 

Pyramid 

Temple 


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Very Bloody...Why? 

a goddess torn apart to create the Earth has a ravenous thirst for human 

blood... 

whenever she is thirsty she (i.e. the soil) stops producing food and she cries 

incessantly.... 

ONLY the blood from human hearts will quench her thirst... 

she who provides sustenance for human lives, demands human lives in return 

for her own sustenance.... 

In Spanish Catholicism it’s ok to kill unrepentant non-believers..... 

In the Aztec Religion it’s necessary to kill ritually enemies...... 


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Tenochtitlan: Templo Mayor 

the most sacred site at the city’s center where 

important sacrifices and religious events occurred 

Double 

flight of 

stairs, in 

front 


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The sculpted "Skull Rack" or Tzompantli at Templo Mayor. 

Such a rack was a common feature of Aztec temples. 


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The sculpted "Skull Rack" or Tzompantli at Templo Mayor. 

Such a rack was a common feature of Aztec temples. 


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Excavations revealed 45 human skulls and approximately 250 lower jaws near 

a building that was part of the ceremonial Sacred Precinct of Tenochtitlan. 


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Tenochtitlan, 1519-1521 

Templo Mayor is the heart of the Aztec’s very wealthy imperial capital 

city of ca. 200, 000 people built on an island with floating gardens 


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In July 1519, Hernán Cortés takes over Vera Cruz placing himself under 

the direct orders of Charles V. From there he begins moving towards 

Tenochtitlan with his interpreters and indigenous allies. 

Vera Cruz 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjV7lYP6hRw 


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Atlatl 

Both Cortés’s indigenous allies and the Aztecs would have been experts 

using the atlatl, a spear launcher which gave a warrior or hunter a 

“longer arm,” more accuracy and dart speeds up to 95mph. 

Atlatl 

Mesoamerican 

codex, 15th c. A.D. 


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Atlatl 

Both Cortés’s indigenous allies and the Aztecs would have been experts 

using the atlatl, a spear launcher which gave a warrior or hunter a 

“longer arm,” more accuracy and dart speeds up to 95mph. 


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Atlatl 


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Atlatl 


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In Nov. 1519 after finally reaching Tenochtitlan, Cortés gains an audience with Moctezuma II the 

Aztec emperor. Relations go well for awhile but then by July 1520 the Spanish must flee the city. 

La Malinche 

Moctezuma II 

Cortés 


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The Battle of Otumba, 1520 

In the Otumba Valley a massive army of 20,00-40,000 Aztecs attacks Cortés and his allies. With 

their musketeers, crossbowmen, swordsmen, allied warriors, and mounted Conquistadores, the 

Spanish utterly defeat the Aztecs killing 20,000 while only losing 75 out of around 1,000. 

The Battle of Otumba, a17th century painting 


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Results: Victory 

In January 1521, Cortés finally captures Cuauhtémoc, the new ruler of Tenochtitlán, and on 

August 13 1521, the Aztec Empire disappears. Tenochtitlán is renamed Mexico City. 


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Results: Tenochtitlán is destroyed 

Templo Mayor the most sacred site at the city’s center where 

important sacrifices and religious events occurred is leveled 

Double 

flight of 

stairs, in 

front 


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Results: Booty, Gold, Wealth 

As the conquistador Bernal Díaz del Castillo observed, "We came 

to serve God and his Majesty, to give light to those in darkness, 

and also to acquire that wealth which most men covet." 


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Results: Religious Conversion 

Cortés actively supported efforts to convert all the indigenous peoples to Catholicism. Below: 

the archaeological site of Templo Mayor and the cathedral of Mexico City, reflected in a mirror. 


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Results: Viceroyalty of New Spain 

created in 1535 it included California, the Southwestern United States, 

Mexico, Central America (except Panama), Florida and the Caribbean. It’s 

capital was Mexico City. 


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Results: 300 years of subjugation and exploitation 

after conquest and colonization in 1521 independence is not 

achieved until 1821 after an 11 year long bloody revolution. 


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Spain 

Spain, officially the Kingdom of Spain, is a member of the European 

Union located on the Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe. 


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4-12-2013-ArchClashCult-Aztec-Spanish - Emmaf.org

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