Malitzen's Role in the Conquest

Malitzen, born around 1500 in the Yucatan Peninsula, was enslaved and became fluent in local languages. In 1519, she was given to Hernan Cortes as a peace offering and became his interpreter, aiding in the conquest of the Aztec Empire. Despite her significant role, she remained a slave. After the fall of Tenochtitlan, she bore Cortes a son and later married a Spanish captain, gaining noble status. Her legacy is complex, viewed by some as a traitor and by others as a pivotal figure in history.

Where was Malitzen born?

• In the Aztec capital

• In the Mayan Empire

• In the Yucatan Peninsula

• In Spain

What skill made Malitzen valuable to Hernan Cortes?

• Her knowledge of Spanish history

• Her linguistic skills

• Her combat skills

• Her cooking abilities

How did Malitzen assist in the conquest of the Aztec Empire?

• By leading the Spanish army

• By providing military strategies

• By negotiating with the Mayans

• By acting as an interpreter

What was the name of the son Malitzen had with Cortes?

• Juan

• Pedro

• Martin

• Carlos

What was the status change for Malitzen after her marriage to a Spanish captain?

• She became a queen

• She remained a slave

• She became a military leader

• She became a free Spanish noblewoman

What significant event occurred in Malitzen's life in 1526?

• She led a rebellion

• She moved to Spain

• She returned to the Aztec Empire

• She gave birth to a daughter

What was the significance of Martin and Maria in Spanish society?

• They were the first Spanish rulers

• They were the first mixed-race children in Spanish nobility

• They led a rebellion against the Spanish

• They were famous explorers

What is Malitzen often called in popular culture?

• La Guerrera

• La Reina

• La Conquistadora

• La Malinche

How is Malitzen viewed by many in terms of the Aztec Empire's fall?

• As a conqueror

• As a victim

• As a traitor

• As a hero

What is a critical aspect to remember about Malitzen's role in history?

• She was the leader of the Spanish forces

• She had complete freedom

• She was a willing participant

• She lacked the freedom to make her own choices