Western Civ

Cortés recovers from the disaster of La Noche Triste and plans for a triumphant return to Tenochtitlan. At the same time, Smallpox ravages Central America.WebsiteAd-Free ShowsWestern Civ 2.0

Cortés rushes back to Tenochtitlan only to find the city beyond saving. After the death of Montezuma, he has no choice but to cut his losses and run.WebsiteAd-Free ShowsTeaching MaterialsWestern Civ 2.0 Free Trial

Cortés gambles again, taking Montezuma captive in the hope that he can turn the entire kingdom over to Charles V. But, the arrival of a relief force from Cuba sent to capture Cortés upsets his plans.WebsiteAd-Free ShowsWestern Civ 2.0

Cortés finally reached the capital of the Mexica Empire and comes face to face with Montezuma.WebsiteAd-Free ShowsWestern Civ 2.0

This is the episode where Cortés really starts to come into focus. Up to this point, he has been just another explorer. But after this episode, his ambitions come into focus: Mexico or bust.WebsitePatreonWestern Civ 2.0Teaching Materials

Hernan Cortes and his expedition continue to explore the Yucatan as they round toward modern-day Veracruz. He begins to learn what works and what does not as he encounters different tribes of indigenous peoples. Horses, it turns out, are a major advantage. Website: www.westerncivpodcast.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/westerncivpodcast Western Civ 2.0: www.glow.fm/westerncivTeaching Resources: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/History-Simulations

This week we finally meet Hernan Cortes. Cortes has an interesting history himself, though much of it remains shrouded in myth and shadow. Yet, in 1518 he gets tapped as the man to lead a new expedition west to follow up on Grijalva's latest voyage. Everyone thinks he is going to explore another island chain. What no one realizes is that he is about to run straight into the most powerful Mesoamerican kingdom. Website: www.westerncivpodcast.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/westerncivpodcastWestern Civ 2.0 Free Trial: www.glow.fm/westerncivTeaching Materials: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/History-Simulations

Hernan Cortes was not the first Spaniard to reach Mexico. But, somewhat shockingly, even as late as 1518, the Spanish did not know about Mexico. They knew something of the land to the west of Cuba, but not much. In this episode, I talk about the first interactions between the Mexica and the Spanish. Website: www.westerncivpodcast.comPatreon: www.patreon.com/westerncivpodcastWestern Civ 2.0: www.glow.fm/westerncivTeaching Materials: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/History-Simulations

in this bonus, author interview, I sit down with Professor Gayle Greene and discuss her book: Immeasurable Outcomes: Teaching Shakespeare in the Age of Algorithms. This book is for any educator right now. There is a lot for us all to commiserate with.Note: Full disclosure, we had some tech issues with this one. I could not use my normal recording system and what we did use abruptly cut off about thirty-eight minutes in. So the end is rather sudden. WebsitePatreon SupportWestern Civ 2.0

The recent earthquake in Turkey and Syria destroyed a large portion of Gaziantep Castle in Turkey. This site dated back to the Second and Third Century CE to the never-ending wars between the Romans and Parthians. Seeing the footage of the destruction, I was reminded how fragile history can be. We need to work to preserve sites like this so that they are not lost because once they are lost, we cannot get them back.To donate to UNESCO's efforts to preserve sites like this, click HERE.