Hernán Cortés

Meaning of the Title, “When Worlds Collide” In the first chapter of US History, the title, “When Worlds Collide” is given to describe this chapter. This represents that the Europeans and Natives had different cultures, diseases, plants, animals, and technology, as if they were in 2 completely different worlds, then met up with each other once Columbus set foot in the Americas. These worlds collided when Columbus, rather than sailing to India, accidentally sailed to the Americas in 1492,…

Trailblazers: The Success of the Spanish Colonies The fate of global civilization was radically changed when Christopher Columbus embarked for the New World in 1492, launching the leading European powers into a race for colonization and exploration. During this time, each country achieved varying degrees of success by employing different tactics to best conquer the uncharted territory of the Americas; for example, the French exploited the trade of beaver pelts to obtain territory and economic…

Renaissance was taking place in Europe, the Aztecs were busy creating a remarkable world class society in the Americas. The Aztec Empire took place from 1350 to 1519 in present-day Mexico. The study of the Aztecs usually begins in 1519, the year when Hernan Cortes and the 500 Spanish conquistadors first discovered the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan. However, the Aztecs had many great accomplishments before this time, that aren’t as talked about in history. The Aztec Empire should be remembered…

We know what happened in history by the evidence, whether it be written journals, documents of business transactions, oral tradition, or the physical evidence of bones, pottery, and weapons. This evidence does not lie, however, it does not necessarily tell the whole truth. Because bias can change the lense through which we see facts, factual history comes from a well-rounded point of view and includes accounts from opposing sides. Because it emphasizes European sources and leaves out Native…

explored the artistic view of the Aztecs. The author described the artistic view of the Aztecs by explaining, “When the German painter and engraver Albrecht Durer first saw a collection of Aztec art objects that had been given by Motecuhzoma to Hernan Cortes and sent to the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, soon after the conquest of Tenochtitlan, he exclaimed, ‘These objects are so valuable that they have been set at a hundred thousand florins’”…

whoever crossed the land bridge that once connected Siberia to Alaska discovered America first. The Spanish expanded throughout the Caribbean, Mesoamerica and the Andes in the fifty years after Christopher Columbus first landed in the Americas. Hernán Cortés and his conquistadors arrived to over Aztec Empire. His army had firearms, horses and carried diseases that the native people were not immune to. Once they conquered The Aztecs built Mexico City, which was built on top of Tenochtitlan, The…

The importance of disease within the encounters between the Spanish Conquistadores and Native American populations, cannot be underestimated. With the introduction of several diseases into the population, dramatic losses were made both culturally and in terms of death rates, impacting almost every sphere of the Native American societies. This essay will discuss the importance of the introduction of smallpox, influenza, measles and syphilis into the Native American populations and examine the…

During the 16th century and the early half of the 17th century the Spanish had the majority claim on North America due to previous explorations; however, by the late 17th century three of the four major powers challenged Spain’s control and had taken hostile action to establish their power in North America. Between 1650 and 1750, a pattern emerged showing that the countries of Europe wanted to claim the Americas, all of their land and resources, as their own for their economy and for power over…

Since 1494 the Native Americans have been called savages and were treated unjustly by the Europeans. The Europeans assumed that they could go to America and take what they wanted, without caring whom was already living on the land. The Europeans also thought that they were superior over the Native Americans. The Europeans were much more advanced with their weapons compared to the Native Americans, and the Native Americans were frightened by the loud noises that the weapons created and the…

Gabriella Mickel History 2001H History is often recounted through a series of key conflicts--their causes, courses and consequences. From European colonization through 1877, major conflicts were provoked, discussed and resolved through influential writings. Examining this period of American History with a focus on the influential texts of the time provides invaluable insight into major historical events. The second half of the fifteenth century was a time of economic revival, population…