Lesson Plan Cortes

LESSON PLAN: COMPARE & CONTRAST
DURATION: 1-2 classes
Grade Level: 9-12

The Cortes expedition almost came to an end when the Aztec turned against Cortes and his crew. Cortes and his men were vastly outnumbered in the Aztec capital of Tenochilitan. The major cause of the change in Aztec toward Cortes and his initiatives was the massacre of the Aztec at their temple, while Cortes was away.

Read the two accounts of the massacre:
One from the Spanish point of view and
One from the Aztec point of view.
Have the students summarize each account.

Have students analyze:
Where do the two accounts agree?
Where do the two accounts differ?
How do we determine which account is correct?
Does it matter?