Hernando Cortes and the Aztec Civilization

The Amazing Story Concerning the Collision of Spanish Conquistadors Against the Aztec Empire.

What you'll learn:

• After viewing this course, students will understand how the Mexica came to occupy their Island on Lake Texcoco, along with an understanding of their society, culture, politics, and military.
• After viewing this course, students will understand how the Spanish became interested and involved in the Yucatan Peninsula and Mexico.
• After viewing this course, students will be able to describe the main weapons used by both the Spanish and the Mexica.
• After viewing this course, students will be able to describe the person of Montezuma II, and his regal splendor and court practices.
• After viewing this course, students will be able to explain how Hernando Cortes was able to ally the Spanish with many towns against the ruler Montezuma II in Tenochtitlan.
• After viewing this course, students will be able to relate the political and military struggle between the Spanish Conquistadors and the Mexica people under Montezuma II.
• After viewing this course, students will be able to describe Malinche, Cortes’ translator and mistress, and her great contributions to the Spanish conquest.
• After viewing this course, students will be able to explain several of the important changes in the region of Mexico since the Spanish conquest.

This course will look at the Spanish Conquistador, Hernando Cortes, focusing upon his expedition to Mexico. The course will begin with lectures introducing the Mexica civilization, followed by an introduction to the Spanish enterprise in the New World. Connections will be made so that students will understand how the Conquistadors knew of Mexico and of their great wealth, and how Hernando Cortes came to be chosen as the leader of the expedition to find and conquer this people. This course will survey in some depth the collision of the Spanish Conquistadors with the Mexica civilization under Montezuma II. Primary sources are often quoted or paraphrased to bring the students into the spirit of the times. The persons of Hernando Cortes and Montezuma II are often viewed and compared in this struggle. The person of Malinche is also occasionally discussed, as she provided a great advantage to the Spanish. The many twists and turns in this drama are truly fascinating, and illustrative of many aspects of human nature. Other topics are explored as they add light to the story, such as the weaponry of the Spanish then, famous art representations, and the travel, water and food distribution of the Mexica within the city of Tenochtitlan. The coverage will also include the many military battles fought by Hernando Cortes, not only against the Mexica, but against other people groups in the area. There are several lectures at the end that will treat the legacy and conclusions of the conflict between the Spanish Conquistadors and the Mexica people. The course comprises 34 video lectures, using voice narration with over 500 Powerpoint slides. Frequently there are supplementary videos, web links, or additional Powerpoint slides to enhance the coverage. The time to complete the video lectures is about 4 ¼ hours. The course is intended for those High School age and up (though serious Junior High School students will benefit also), and requires just the ability to view and hear video lectures.