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