Spanish Exploration

and the Aztecs & Incas

 Aztecs and Inca
By the early 1500s, the Aztec
and Incan empires were the
largest in the New World.
Both empires had populations
over 200,000 and had cities
larger than most European
cities.
They had their own
governments, languages,
trading systems, and very large
and advanced armies.
Within 50 years, both
civilizations were completely
destroyed by small Spanish
armies.
 Incas
The Incan civilization was even
larger than the Aztec.
The Incan were great warriors
They had their own language,
trading system, a government
more advanced that most in
Europe, large cities and a very
good system of roads.
Some Incan roads are still
used today!
The Incan empire extended
through most of the Andes
Mountains region
 Incan cities, like Cuzco
or Macchu Picchu were
built high in the Andes
Mountains.
The Inca had an
ingenious agricultural
system.
In order to grow plants
on mountain sides,
they built stone
terraces to farm on.
 Two tell Ones
Name 3 interesting facts about the Inca.
 Incas
By 1532, they were the largest
empire in Latin America.
Their king was Atahualpa
In the same year, Spanish
explorers led by Francisco Pizarro
enter the Incan Empire (Peru)
Pizarro and his men take
Atahualpa prisoner and use him
to control the Incan Empire
They eventually execute
Atahualpa.
 Inca
Pizzaro and his small army are
destroy the Incan Empire.
They make allies with native
enemies of the Inca.
They also have superior
weapons
guns, cannon, and horses
However, their weapons are
not the biggest reason the
Incan Empire was destroyed
5. What do you think was the
biggest cause of the
destruction of the Incan
empire?
Areas Under Spanish Control
 Essential Question
What role did
Atahualpa and
Pizzaro play in the
conquest of the Incas
and how did the
Spanish defeat the
empire so easily?
 Writing to Learn
I am ____________, the Aztec/Inca
Pretend you are either the Aztec or an
Incan citizen. What would you do to
defend yourself against the Spanish?
Could you have fought them off, or
survived? How?
 Aztec Chocolate Drink Recipe

Ingredients:
1 ounce unsweetened baking chocolate
1 teaspoon vanilla
2/3 cup boiling water
ground pepper or chilies to taste
Grate the unsweetened chocolate into a bowl and cover it with a little of the boiling
water. Mash the mixture into a paste. Add the rest of the water and vanilla and beat
with an electric mixer until frothy. You could also use a molinillo or blender (on
high speed) to beat the mixture as well. Add the pepper or chilies to give the drink
a little kick.
The chocolate does not totally dissolve in the water using this technique. Tiny
particles of chocolate will float in the water, and you will be able to taste the
grittiness in the drink. For a more authentic drink, allow the chocolate to cool and
beat it into a froth just before you drink it.