edHelper.com
Explorers

Conquistadors

Conquistadors
Reading Level
     edHelper's suggested reading level:   grades 5 to 7
     Flesch-Kincaid grade level:   9.53

Vocabulary
     challenging words:    captain-general, Hernan, montezuma, invasion, historian, civilization, spears, invaders, emperor, massacre, riches, civil, spelled, smallpox, bravery, unknown
     content words:    New World, Native Americans, Hernan Cortes, Chief Magistrate, Francisco Pizarro, South America, Other Inca

Print Conquistadors
edHelper.com subscriber options:
     Print Conquistadors  (font options, pick words for additional puzzles, and more)
     Quickly print reading comprehension
     Print a proofreading activity

Feedback on Conquistadors
     Leave your feedback on Conquistadors  (use this link if you found an error in the story)

Other Languages
     Spanish: Los Conquistadores

Conquistadors
By Sharon Fabian 		  
1     Conquistadors -- Conquerors -- Soldiers from Spain, one of the world superpowers of the 1500s, who explored, conquered, and settled in the New World. They came looking for gold, silver, land, and glory. Their equipment included cannons aboard their ships, iron weapons including crossbows, swords, and spears, and iron armor.

Aztecs and Incas -- Native Americans who had developed and maintained civilizations in America for hundreds of years. At the time of the conquistadors' invasion, the Aztec and Inca armies had been weakened by civil wars. Their equipment included bronze and copper shields, stone knives, and cloth armor.

Smallpox and measles -- Deadly diseases unknown in America before the arrival of the Europeans. Smallpox and measles arrived with the invaders, and may have done more to determine who would rule America that than all of the weapons combined.
 
2     One historian who wrote about the Spanish explorers in the new world used these words to describe the conquistadors; bravery, cruelty, endurance, greed, and suffering. Could all of these words really describe the same group of people? Read about two of the Spanish conquistadors and decide for yourself.
 
3     Hernan Cortes had been Chief Magistrate of Santiago, Cuba, but in 1518 he was appointed "captain-general" of an expedition to search for gold and other riches in Mexico. To do that, he set out to fight the Aztec civilization that was led by Moctezuma ( also spelled "Montezuma"). Cortes arrived with blasts of cannon fire from his ships. This must have frightened Moctezuma and his people, who had never used cannons, but they eventually welcomed Cortes and the Spanish troops. Cortes used this situation to get into a position where he was able to massacre thousands of Aztecs and take Moctezuma prisoner. At the same time, smallpox and measles killed and weakened many more Aztecs. By 1521, the Aztec civilization had been conquered.

Paragraphs 4 to 6:
For the complete story with questions: click here for printable
Copyright © 2008 edHelper