The Aztecs built an empire by conquering other Indian nations. An empire is many nations or territories ruled by a single group or leader.

Cortes made contact with the Aztecs, jailed Moctezuma, and conquered the Aztecs with other Indian nations.

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The Aztecs

Juan Ponce de Leon

Hernando de Soto

Francisco d Coronado

Coronado and other Spanish conquistadors traveled thousands of miles for the search of cities of gold.

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Cities of
Gold

• The Aztecs ruled a large empire in present-day Mexico. Hernan Cortes conquered the Aztecs in 1521

• Spanish conquistadors explored much of the southern United States
  Why it matters...
  What the Spanish learned about the American Southwest helped future explorers for hundreds of years

Lesson Summary