OCR GCSE History B: World depth study — Aztecs and the Spanish Conquest, 1519–1535

What is included

What this course covers

• Section 1 — Moctezuma’s Empire

  • 1.1 – The extent and nature of Moctezuma’s Aztec empire in 1519
  • 1.2 – The wealth of empire: agriculture, crafts and trade
  • 1.3 – Centre of empire: the splendour of Tenochtitlan

• Section 2 — Controlling the Empire

  • 2.1 – Territorial expansion and the nature of warfare
  • 2.2 – Land, tribute and the role of elites
  • 2.3 – Aztec religion including beliefs, temples and sacrifice

• Section 3 — Encounters

  • 3.1 – Motives for Spanish expansion into the Caribbean and central America
  • 3.2 – Cortés’ expedition to Mexico and first encounter with the Aztecs, February to April 1519
  • 3.3 – Dissatisfaction among Aztec subjects and Spanish alliances

• Section 4 — Conquest, 1519–1521

  • 4.1 – The Spanish in Tenochtitlan and the relationship between Cortés and Moctezuma
  • 4.2 – Hostilities: the capture and death of Moctezuma and the Spanish flight, 1 July 1520
  • 4.3 – The siege of Tenochtitlan and reasons for the Spanish victory

• Section 5 — The birth of New Spain

  • 5.1 – Spanish rule: the Encomienda and the reorganisation of the tribute system
  • 5.2 – The role and conduct of the Church
  • 5.3 – Landscape and people transformed: grazing animals, ecological devastation and mestizos

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