can slaves begin to be shipped to theIndies. In 1518 to 1519, there was an outbreak of smallpox. One-third ofthe remaining natives are killed as well as many of the Spa!niards there. By 1518, more than 20 million (actually about 50 million)enslaved Africans were brought to the Americas. In 1519, Cortes was the general of an expedition to the Indies.In March, he landed in Cozumel with 11 ships, 580 armed Spaniards, 17horses, crossbows, dozens of guns, and 10 cannons. Cortes and his menfought their way up strong Mayan resistance up the coast. Whenever Cortescame upon a temple, he smashed the idols, had the blood-stained wallspainted white, and installed a cross. In July 1519, some of his men wereunsettled and were thinking of turning back, but Cortes sank all of hisremaining ships. In August 1519, Cortes and his forces proceeded inlandwith 500 men, 15 horses, and the cannons destroying temples and putting in crosses continually. In November 1519,Cortes arrested Montezuma accusing him of ordering an attack on some ofhis men. In June 1520, Montezuma was stoned to death by his own men. InJuly 1520, Cortes and his forces flee Tenochtitlan for Tlascalan. At oneparticular battle, the Battle of Otumba, the Spanish barely escape thepursuing Aztecs. Only 400 Spaniards and 24 horses survive. All cannonsand gunpowder were lost in the battle. In the Valley of Mexico,Tenochtitlan in particular, the people were stricken by an epidemic ofsmallpox. In the year of 1513, there was a document written in Spain calledThe Requirement. It was towards the Spanish conquistadors, but aimed forthe natives that they came in contact with. It was mainly written to helpconvince the natives to convert to Christianity. It said that thedocument must be read to any native culture that they came into contactwith. After it was read, the Indians had a choice to either convert toChristianity, or not convert, and they had to put it into writing also.The docu...
