"In A.D. 1521 the peoples who were ruled by the Aztecs grew tired of the treatment they received at their taskmasters hands. The Aztecs required all conquered peoples to pay heavy and burdensome taxes. They also often sacrificed their men to the Aztec gods as part of their religious practices.
In this year these people joined forces with the Spanish explorers, who had arrived in the region, and attacked the Aztec capital. They were quickly able to overthrow the Aztec Empire. "
Source
Monday, March 10, 2008
Saturday, March 8, 2008
The upsetting massacre
"After courteous initial meetings with Moctezuma, relations between the Spaniards and the Aztecs deteriorated rapidly. Perhaps fearing that his company would become the next human sacrifices at the Aztec temple, Cortés seized Moctezuma and made him a prisoner. This stunned the Aztecs into submission and the Aztecs began collecting treasure as ransom. In the meanwhile Cortés left the capital to engage a military expedition sent by Velásquez to capture the rebellious captain. After subduing the forces sent by Velásquez, Cortés returned to Tenochtitlán to find that his Spanish troops had massacred an unarmed crowd at a religious ceremony thus provoking a massive popular uprising."
Source
Source
How everything came to be
"The Spanish assault on Mexico was set in motion by Diego Velásquez, the Spanish Governor of Cuba. By the early sixteenth century, the Spanish settlement in Cuba was mired in problems. Quite simply, there was neither enough land nor enough slave labour to meet the needs of a growing European population. Velásquez therefore sent expeditions into the Yucatán and the Gulf of Mexico between 1516 and 1518 to conduct reconnaissance missions in the surrounding area. Although the voyages did not yield an immediate solution for the Governor of Cuba, there were indications of a wealthy civilisation somewhere just beyond the Spaniard's reach. Intrigued and excited about the possibility of finding the source of this wealth, Velásquez commissioned Hernán Cortés to explore, trade, and search for Christian captives in the Yucatán."
Source
Source
Weather
"Before I begin to describe this great city and the others already mentioned, it may be well for the better understanding of the subject to say something of the configuration of Mexico, in which they are situated, it being the principal seat of Moctezuma's power. This Province is in the form of a circle, surrounded on all sides by lofty and rugged mountains; its level surface comprises an area of about seventy leagues in circumference, including two lakes, that overspread nearly the whole valley, being navigated by boats more than fifty leagues round. One of these lakes contains fresh and the other, which is the larger of the two, salt water. On one side of the lakes, in the middle of the valley, a range of highlands divides them from one another, with the exception of a narrow strait which lies between the highlands and the lofty sierras. This strait is a bow-shot wide, and connects the two lakes; and by this means a trade is carried on between the cities and other settlements on the lakes in canoes without the necessity of traveling by land. As the salt lake rises and falls with its tides like the sea, during the time of high water it pours into the other lake with the rapidity of a powerful stream; and on the other hand, when the tide has ebbed, the water runs from the fresh into the salt lake."
Sourcebook
Sourcebook
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Massacre Evidence
"Moctezuma came down the middle of this street with two chiefs, one on his right hand and the other on his left. When we met I dismounted and stepped forward to embrace him, but the two lords who were with him stopped me with their hands so that I should not touch him; and they likewise all performed the ceremony of kissing the earth. When at last I came to speak to Moctezuma himself I took off a necklace of pearls and cut glass that I was wearing and placed it round his neck; after we had walked a little way up the street a servant of his came with two necklaces, wrapped in a cloth, made from red snails' shells, which they hold in great esteem; and from each necklace hung eight shrimps of refined gold almost a span in length. And after he had given me these things he sat on another throne which they placed there next to the one on which I was sitting, and addressed me in he following way"
Source
Source
"They ran in among the dancers, forcing their way to the place where the drums were played. They attacked the man who was drumming and cut off his arms. Then they cut off his head, and it rolled across the floor.
They attacked all the celebrants, stabbing them, spearing them, striking them with their swords. They attacked some of them from behind, and these fell instantly to the ground with their entrails hanging out. Others they beheaded: they cut off their heads, or split their heads to pieces.
They struck others in the shoulders, and their arms were torn from their bodies. They wounded some in the thigh and some in the calf. They slashed others in the abdomen, and their entrails all spilled to the ground. Some attempted to run away, but their intestines dragged as they ran; they seemed to tangle their feet in their own entrails. No matter how they tried to save themselves, they could find no escape. "
By a conquistador:Pedro de Alvarado
The spaniards killed the aztec people...
read more here
They attacked all the celebrants, stabbing them, spearing them, striking them with their swords. They attacked some of them from behind, and these fell instantly to the ground with their entrails hanging out. Others they beheaded: they cut off their heads, or split their heads to pieces.
They struck others in the shoulders, and their arms were torn from their bodies. They wounded some in the thigh and some in the calf. They slashed others in the abdomen, and their entrails all spilled to the ground. Some attempted to run away, but their intestines dragged as they ran; they seemed to tangle their feet in their own entrails. No matter how they tried to save themselves, they could find no escape. "
By a conquistador:Pedro de Alvarado
The spaniards killed the aztec people...
read more here
Aztec People under attack
As you can see is this picture the spanish army is killing the Aztec people. The Aztec people are backed up in the corner and only have one option left .
Possible Motive
"Then he raised his clothes and showed me his body, saying, as he grasped his arms and trunk with his hands, "See that I am of flesh and blood like you and all other men, and I am mortal and substantial. See how they have lied to you? It is true that I have some pieces of gold left to me by my ancestors; anything I might have shall be given to you whenever you ask. Now I shall go to other houses where I live, but here you shall be provided with all that you and your people require, and you shall receive no hurt, for you are in your own land and your own house."
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
TEAM #1
GLOBAL STUDIES INVESTIGATION UNIT
INVESTIGATION FORM
Detective Names: Gabriel, Kiara, Aman, Aaron
Precinct # 1
Name of Victim: Aztec Civilization
Physical Description of Victim:
Age at time of death:
Country of Origin: The Aztec were originally from Mexico
Approx. size of population:
Significant Geographical Features:
Victim’s Cultural Background:
Languages spoken:
Description of government: The government was a Monarchy, they relied on one ruler to make the best of there civlization
Description of Economic System: Based there lives on farming
Description of religious beliefs: The Aztec civilization relied on astronomical and nature gods.
Forensic Analysis:
List and describe all evidence used:
Letter;Hernan Cortes
Explain significance of each piece of evidence:
The letter shows a possible motive
List and describe any possible suspects:
Hernan Cortes
Aztec Civilization itself
Witness Interviews:
"Moctezuma came down the middle of this street with two chiefs, one on his right hand and the other on his left. When we met I dismounted and stepped forward to embrace him, but the two lords who were with him stopped me with their hands so that I should not touch him; and they likewise all performed the ceremony of kissing the earth. When at last I came to speak to Moctezuma himself I took off a necklace of pearls and cut glass that I was wearing and placed it round his neck; after we had walked a little way up the street a servant of his came with two necklaces, wrapped in a cloth, made from red snails' shells, which they hold in great esteem; and from each necklace hung eight shrimps of refined gold almost a span in length. And after he had given me these things he sat on another throne which they placed there next to the one on which I was sitting, and addressed me in he following way"
Sourcebook
Who created sources:
Hernan Cortes
Dates of testimony:
1519 as the latter entered the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan.
Conclusions:
Cause of Death (check one only):
Suicide_____ Natural Causes_______ Homicide XXX
Explain cause of death (in detail):
GLOBAL STUDIES INVESTIGATION UNIT
INVESTIGATION FORM
Detective Names: Gabriel, Kiara, Aman, Aaron
Precinct # 1
Name of Victim: Aztec Civilization
Physical Description of Victim:
Age at time of death:
Country of Origin: The Aztec were originally from Mexico
Approx. size of population:
Significant Geographical Features:
Victim’s Cultural Background:
Languages spoken:
Description of government: The government was a Monarchy, they relied on one ruler to make the best of there civlization
Description of Economic System: Based there lives on farming
Description of religious beliefs: The Aztec civilization relied on astronomical and nature gods.
Forensic Analysis:
List and describe all evidence used:
Letter;Hernan Cortes
Explain significance of each piece of evidence:
The letter shows a possible motive
List and describe any possible suspects:
Hernan Cortes
Aztec Civilization itself
Witness Interviews:
"Moctezuma came down the middle of this street with two chiefs, one on his right hand and the other on his left. When we met I dismounted and stepped forward to embrace him, but the two lords who were with him stopped me with their hands so that I should not touch him; and they likewise all performed the ceremony of kissing the earth. When at last I came to speak to Moctezuma himself I took off a necklace of pearls and cut glass that I was wearing and placed it round his neck; after we had walked a little way up the street a servant of his came with two necklaces, wrapped in a cloth, made from red snails' shells, which they hold in great esteem; and from each necklace hung eight shrimps of refined gold almost a span in length. And after he had given me these things he sat on another throne which they placed there next to the one on which I was sitting, and addressed me in he following way"
Sourcebook
Who created sources:
Hernan Cortes
Dates of testimony:
1519 as the latter entered the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan.
Conclusions:
Cause of Death (check one only):
Suicide_____ Natural Causes_______ Homicide XXX
Explain cause of death (in detail):
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