The Americas before Columbus had complex cultures and civilizations with no metal technology or large domesticated animals, though they had complex trade networks. The Aztec Empire conquered surrounding peoples and captured warriors to sacrifice. In 1519, the Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes landed in Mexico with a small force but allied with native groups like the Nahuas, conquering the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan by 1521, aided by smallpox epidemics. This period saw the Columbian Exchange where crops, animals and diseases were transferred between the Old and New Worlds, changing societies on both sides.

1. The Americas before Columbus
• 50 million people (?)
• No metal technology
• No large domesticated animals
• Complex trade networks
• Complex cultures and civilizations

2. Essential Questions
• How did the first immigrants reach North
America?
• What cultures and civilization flourished in
the Americas prior to European contact?
• What were the positive and negative
effects of European contact?
• Was this a period of contact or conquest?

4. Aztec Empire

5. Ancient Tenochtitlan

8. Fundacion Tenochtitlan

9. Aztec Warrior Dress in Front of the Shrine of the Virgen de Guadalupe, Mexico City

10. • Skilled warriors
• Weapons from
wood, stone and volcanic
glass
• Conquered surrounding
people
• Captives sacrificed

13. Hernan Cortes
• Conquistador
• Landed in Mexico in
1519
• Conquered Aztecs by
1521
• Native allies
– Nahuas
– Tlaxcaltec
– Totonacs
• Small pox

14. Moctezuma II
• Aztec Ruler
• Host and Prisoner of
the Conquistadores
• Details of his death
are disputed

16. Columbian Exchange: The transfer
of living things between the “Old”
and “New” Worlds
“Old World” “New” World (North and
(Europe, Africa, & South America)
Asia) • Corn
• Horses • Potato
• Pigs • Tobacco
• Cattle • Beans
• Wheat • Peanut
• Sugar • Turkey
• Small Pox
• Measles