CHAPTER 9 : SPAIN LOOKS WESTWARD
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| Christopher Columbus |
Christopher Columbus
Columbus was an explorer from Italy. He wanted to set sail and go westward across the Atlantic ocean to Asia, but he needed money for that. So he asked the Spanish Monarch to help him with his idea and they refused once again. He then asked the kings of Portugal, England, and France who also said no. He then had no hope of trying again so he said he would go back to Italy and become a map maker. Although the king and queen thought more about his exploration and said yes.
Religion
In the beginning of the middle ages, most of the people in Spain were Christians. The Visigoths, who took over north Spain at the end of the Roman Empire, were the ones who ruled Spain in the middle ages. In 711 AD Toriq ibn-Ziyad who led a Muslim force who crossed the Strait of Gibraltar and entered Spain. After a few years the Muslims almost took over Spain and Portugal. They also built a Mosque in Cordoba to show that they own. Most of the Christians converted to Islam, but some didn't.
At the start of the 1000's the caliphate, that is Spain began to decline. The small amount of christian's that didn't invert to Islam were placed along the northern coast. The Christians slowly started expanding southwards which led to the Reconquista that helped the christian kingdoms to expand their powers, and influence.
War tactics
The Spanish learnt a new way if fighting during the Reconquista. They formed a large group of soldiers in a tight formation with all the soldiers holding the same weapon. Which resulted with the Spanish becoming the most deadliest group of soldiers.
The Spanish Inquisition
King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella wanted all of Spain to be devoted to one religion to, so they could take over the Spanish Inquisition. After the Reconquista was over, the inquisition made the Muslim and Jewish people convert to Christianity or be exiled. Some people pretended to convert, and all Muslims and Jews continued to be in fear,for if they ever got discovered.
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| Gold |
Gold
The national wealth a country has is usually symbolized from how much gold and silver they have.To buy natural resources the country has to be wealthy to afford them. They also have to have gold to buy materials for war to protect the borders, and to buy ships.
In 1492 Spain's amount of gold and silver was running out. Which was very bad because they needed the resources for wars to pay and feed soldiers, teaching new recruits, buying weapons, building hospitals and homes. The Spanish Monarchs hoped that Columbus's mission would bring them gold to help with the Spanish economy. Although after Columbus brought back a little amount of gold and a letter. Because Columbus brought gold to Spain the Monarchs started another voyage for him again.
War and land were the only way Spanish nobles could support themselves. Lots of nobels had land for crops and live stalk. Although after the reconquista there was a very short amount of of good land for farming, which was not enough for all the nobles. So some of them started working as shoemakers, owning a shop, business or commerce. Some other nobles went to North America
CHAPTER 10: A DEADLY MEETING
Moctezuma, the 5th Aztec emperor, noticed that there were strangers lurking around Tenochtitlan who were wearing odd clothing, sailing in boats , and also riding horses with guns. So Moctezuma sent a group of Aztecs to give them gifts and a mask made of turquoise, and quetzal feathers. Thinking that the gifts would make them happy.
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| Cortéz |
Cortéz, the Conquistador was the man leading the Spanish troops to conquer the Aztec people. Cortéz also traveled to the island Hispaniola he went there to get gold, but was given a large farm from the governor. One other mission Cortéz went on was to take over Cuba with 300 men which he successfully did.
He stayed in Cuba for 8 years, but he wanted to go to the Yucatan Peninsula. So he asked Veláquez to create two explorations to find information about the large unknown area. When the people came back from the the exploration they brought information that there was civilization who were more wealthier, bigger, stronger then any other group with have encountered. So he asked Veláquez to pay for a expedition to the large unknown landmass. He also used loans to buy ships. At the end Cortéz had 508 soldiers, 11 ships, 100 sailors, 200 slave and 16 horses.
Before entering the Aztec Empire Cortéz went to the town La Villa Rica de la Vercruz , which was on the coast of Mexico. When he got to the town he sent a ship with all the treasure he had collected and sunk the other 10.
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| Veláquez |
When Cortéz arrived at the Aztec Empire they brought Muskets with them which were unknown to the Aztecs. The Muskets were common in England but not in Aztec. When the Aztec people heard sound of muskets they thought it was thunder and lightening. When Moctezuma was informed that the Spanish had landed, he sent ambassadors to see what they wanted. Although Cortéz had a different idea he told his troops to fire before the ambassadors left.
The Battle
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| Moctezuma |
The Aztecs made sure that Cortéz and his troops were happy. They took them to the market, and the Spanish found out that the Aztecs had many golden treasures. They were hungry for gold which led to Cortéz to attack. They put Moctezuma in house arrest inside of his palace. They searched inside his palace for gold and treasure and melted it. Governer Veláquez sent a troop to arrest Cortéz , but Cortéz had left Tenochititlan. When he left, he left Pedro de Alvarado in charge and Alvarado let the Aztec's hold a festival, but his troops killed all the dancers. Cortéz persuaded Governer Veláquez and his troop to brawl with the Aztecs, after Cortéz conquered Veláquez team. Moctezuma was told by Cortéz to calm the people from Tenochitilan, but they threw stones at him. Moctezuma died after this. The Aztecs finally got rid of the spanish by killing them and kicking the rest out of Tenochititlan. After 6 months Cortéz came back to the Aztec village with a stronger and larger troop. 25 % of the Aztec people had died because of smallpox. Cortéz's force didnt let the people use the aqueducts. In about 80 days the Spanish defeated the Aztecs. And a new Spanish colony was on its way.
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