Hero or Villain? 

 

 

 

Hernando Cortes was born in the village of Medellin in Entremedura, Spain, in 1485. At the age of 14, he left home to study law at the University of Salamanca and returned home two years later. He wandered the seaports of Cadiz, Palos, Sanlucar, and Seville and in 1504 joined an expedition of five ships that sailed for Santo Domingo in the New World. Cortes wanted to become a conquistador (a conqueror as well as an explorer) for Spain.  (http://www.eduref.org/Virtual/Lessons/crossroads/sec4/Unit_2/Unit_IIQ2R2.html) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where did Cortez start his journey and where did he travel?

 

In 1504 joined an expedition of five ships that sailed for Santo Domingo in the New World. Cortez wanted to become a conquistador (a conqueror as well as an explorer) for Spain.

After arriving in Hispaniola, the center for Spanish exploration, Cortez got himself noticed by Diego Velasquez who had decided to explore and conquer Cuba in 1511. He asked Cortez to join his expedition. The expedition was successful, but it did not satisfy the Spanish craving for gold. The expedition sailed around the Yucatan peninsula on March 4, 1519, and stopped at the mouth of a river in the country of Tabasco. (http://www.eduref.org/Virtual/Lessons/crossroads/sec4/Unit_2/Unit_IIQ2R2.html)

 

                                                                             

 

 

 

 

 

 

Who sent Cortez on his voyages and what was their motivation?

 

 Velasquez had heard about a wealthy Aztec Empire in Mexico and wanted someone to lead an expedition there, to obtain the gold from the empire. He needed someone that he could trust and who would remain loyal to him. Cortez was overjoyed that he was asked to be the commander of the expedition to find the Aztec cities.

Cortez rushed to make preparations for departure, because he feared Velasquez might change his mind and appoint someone else to lead the expedition. Velasquez soon suspected Cortez would go beyond his orders and cancelled the expedition. Unfortunately for Velasquez, Cortez had already assembled men and equipment and set sail. The expedition consisted of 11 ships, 500 soldiers, 13 horses, and some cannons.  He rounded the peninsula at Yucatan and touched Mexico on the coast of what is now the state of Tabasco. (http://library.thinkquest.org/J002678F/cortez.htm)

 

 

 

 

 

Who did Cortez meet on his voyages and how did he get along with them?

 

During the battle with Indians in the state of Tabasco, he took many captives including a young Aztec princess. She became his interpreter and advisor.

Cortez continued up the coast. On April 21,1519, he landed near the site of Veracruz. There, to prevent all thought of retreat, he burned his ships. Leaving a small force on the coast, Cortez led the rest of his men into the interior. A warlike tribe of natives attacked his party. The Indians outnumbered the Spaniards 300 to 1.

On November 8, 1519, Cortez reached Tenochtitlan (now Mexico City) and was graciously received by Montezuma, the Aztec emperor. Soon after Cortez established headquarters in the capital, he learned that the Aztecs had plundered Veracruz. He seized Montezuma and forced him to surrender the attackers. Then he had them executed.

Meanwhile Velasquez had sent 1,400 soldiers to arrest Cortez and bring him back to Cuba. Cortez defeated this army and most of the survivors joined Cortez.  (http://library.thinkquest.org/J002678F/cortez.htm)

 

 

Cortez with Montezuma

 

 

 

 

 

What was the outcome of Cortez's voyages?

 

Cortez returned to the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan. As Cortez and his men reached the heart of the city, they were attacked by thousands of Aztec warriors. Montezuma was brought out to pacify his people, but they stoned him, and later he died of his wounds. Cortez' army was surrounded and apparently doomed, but he and three others managed to get to the chieftain of the Aztecs and killed him. Confused by this apparent "miracle," the Aztecs retreated. With fewer than 500 of his men left alive, Cortez, in July of 1520, made his way back to his Indian allies.

Cortez attacked Tenochtitlan again by ship the following May. On August 13, 1521, Guatemoc, the new Aztec emperor, surrendered. This was the end of the great empire of the Aztecs.

 

 

 

 

 

Websites about Cortez:

 

 

http://www.hyperhistory.net/apwh/bios/b4hcortez_p1jf.htm

http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/hernando-cortes.htm

http://www.eduref.org/Virtual/Lessons/crossroads/sec4/Unit_2/Unit_IIQ2R2.html

 

***http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/hernando-cortes.htm