Question

Which accurately describes the actions of Hernán Cortés during the Age of Discovery?

A) Upon arriving in the Americas, Cortés conquered the Inca Empire and gained control of Machu Picchu.
B) Upon arriving in the Americas, Cortés conquered the Inca Empire and gained control of Machu Picchu.
C) Upon arriving in the Americas, Cortés conquered the Mayan Empire and gained control of present-day Panama.
D) Upon arriving in the Americas, Cortés conquered the Hopi Empire and gained control of present-day Arizona.

Answer 1

Hernán Cortés arrived in the Americas and conquered the Aztec Empire, while Francisco Pizarro was responsible for defeating the Inca Empire. Cortés was attracted by the wealth of the Aztecs, particularly their gold.

Step-by-step explanation:

Hernán Cortés's Conquests

The actions of Hernán Cortés during the Age of Discovery correctly correspond to the events described in letter C, which detail his arrival in the Americas and the subsequent conquest of the Aztec Empire. In 1519, Cortés landed on the Yucatán Peninsula and later entered Tenochtitlán, where he eventually overthrew the Aztec ruler and claimed the empire for Spain. This marked a significant event in the Age of Discovery, demonstrating the power and impact of Spanish conquest in the New World. The conquest of the Inca Empire, on the other hand, was carried out by Francisco Pizarro, who founded Lima, Peru, and later captured Atahualpa, the Incan ruler, thus bringing the Inca civilization under Spanish rule.

It is crucial to note that Cortés's expedition was driven by the promise of wealth, notably the Aztec riches in gold and landed assets. Understanding the dynamics between the Spanish conquistadors and the established empires of the Americas is essential for comprehending the historical context of European expansion during this era.