What impression does Weiditz's painting convey? What would the painting tell its European viewers about Native Americans and about themselves? The feather painting scenes were done nearly fifty years after the painting of the juggler. How has the image of the Native American changed? What were the Franciscans saying about the Indians and about their fellow Europeans? How does the painting depicting the burning of the idols both reject and affirm the Aztec heritage?
He opened communication with nearby communities and then with Moctezuma II , the Aztec emperor. His forces then marched on the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan modern Mexico City , where Moctezuma welcomed him.
The Spaniards were driven out of Tenochtitlan and nearly wiped out, but they ultimately returned and laid siege to the city. Particularly strategic were communities which had been subject to the Aztecs, who had heavily taxed the people and practiced human sacrifice.
What happened next is unclear. He returned with thousands of Indian allies, who opposed the Aztecs. After a four month siege, during which time Aztec defenders succumbed as much to disease and starvation as to the force of arms, the new Aztec king Cuautemoc surrendered. By , most of central Mexico was integrated under Spanish control in the kingdom of New Spain. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, , — The strange end of the Aztec nation remains one of the most fascinating events in the annals of human societies.
Why did a strong people defending its own territory succumb so quickly to a handful of Spaniards fighting in dangerous and completely unfamiliar circumstances? The answers to these questions lie in the fact that at the time of the Spanish arrival, the Aztec and Inca Empires faced grave internal difficulties brought on by their religious ideologies; by the Spaniards' boldness, timing, and technology; and by Aztec and Inca psychology and attitudes toward war.
The Spaniards arrived in late summer, when the Aztecs were preoccupied with harvesting their crops and not thinking of war. From the Spaniards' perspective, their timing was ideal. A series of natural phenomena, signs, and portents seemed to augur disaster for the Aztecs. A comet was seen in daytime, a column of fire had appeared every midnight for a year, and two temples were suddenly destroyed, one by lightning unaccompanied by thunder.
These and other apparently inexplicable events seemed to presage the return of the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl and had an unnerving effect on the Aztecs. They looked on the Europeans riding "wild beasts" as extraterrestrial forces coming to establish a new social order. Visit the sights of the city: the market the zoo Emperor Moctezuma's sumptuous palace and the eerie temple pyramid whose steps dripped with the blood of human sacrifices.
Relive the bloody battles for the city and encounter the fearsome eagle and jaguar knights who could cut off a horse's head with one blow from their clubs. Be an eyewitness to the rise and fall of the Aztec empire. Witness the dramatic events leading up to the clash between the Aztecs and the Spanish and enjoy lively reports from eyewitnesses at the scene. Archaeology reveals the rich history and complex culture of the Aztecs. Journey to the center of this elevated ancient civilization, to a huge oval basin 7, feet above sea level, in the Valley of Mexico.
Study National Geographic maps and behold the vast range of this intriguing empire. Learn how modern archaeological methods and computer technology have helped to piece together patterns of conquest and colonization. Watch over the shoulders of archaeologists as they unearth clues about the history of the Aztec.
Visit www. The Aztecs emerged in the late s, in the area that today is Mexico, from the Mexica, one of the ancient peoples of the region. Most of the Aztecs were commoners, who provided the labor needed for the culture to thrive. They served as soldiers, farmed the land, and built cities such as Tenochtitlan. The culture began to collapse when the Aztecs were overtaken by Spanish conquistadors in the s.
This book explores the ancient Aztecs through social structure. It takes a look at the people and details the duties of an emperor, the activities of a farmer, and much more.
It also describes some of the discoveries and writings that have led to our present-day understanding of this fascinating culture. However, Pizarro launched an attack, killing thousands of Incas and capturing Atahualpa. The Inca leader knew what the gold-hungry Spanish were after and offered to pay a ransom by filling the room where he was being held with gold.
Pizarro accepted, and during the following months Incas brought gold, silver, jewelry, and other riches from all over the Empire. Eventually, Atahualpa was able to pay the ransom, but the Spanish executed him anyway in , marking the end of the mighty Inca Empire.
How were the relatively small Spanish armies able to conquer much larger indigenous forces? In addition to their strategic alliances with different indigenous groups, the Spanish had several advantages.
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