What if Pizzaro had been infected with smallpox when he reached the borders of the Incan Empire, and if he died of it? What if the Incas modernized and strengthened? Well, this story will go into those possibilities.
Pizzaro’s Failed Expedition
Francisco Pizzaro was a Spanish conquistador, hungering for fame and money. He was the second cousin once removed of Hernan Cortes, who had successfully conquered the Aztec civilization, transforming it into the colony of New Spain (now Mexico). Pizzaro wanted to claim the Incan Empire, another American civilization, as a Spanish viceroyalty.
In 1530, Pizzaro and his 200 men set out from Panama, carrying cannons, guns, and horses, objects of which the Incans had never seen. However, while in the Panamanian rain forest, they had caught scurvy and rain forest fever. By the time they reached Incaland (Incan Empire), they were all sick. Incan scouts there caught their disease as well, but the Incans were immune to it, so they lived. Pizzaro and his men were not immune, and didn’t live.
Immediately after the death of Pizzaro and his group, Incan scouts spread the word throughout the Empire about this “strange group of white men who died from fever”. Eventually, the emperor heard about it. His name was Athacapula II the Great (reigned 1528-1568).
Athacapula the Great learned about the “weird swords and llamas the white men had”. The emperor decided this was proof of a foreign civilization that ruled to the north of Incaland. He decided to sign a treaty with them, or at least contact them.
In 1533, a man named Coronado, the governor of Spanish Venezuela, and about 340 men came to the Empire, sent by the Spanish government to negotiate a treaty with the Incans. The emperor welcomed them. Coronado was astonished by the advanced state of Incaland, who had developed a calendar, proper religion, and science. Coronado decided to teach Incaland about Europe and their customs, history, science, and medicine.
In August 1533, the Treaty of Cuzco was signed, laying out the following terms:
The emperor then signed the Treaty. Coronado then signed the treaty as well, in the name of the Spanish Crown.
After the Treaty, the emperor began a modernization of Incaland.
Pizzaro’s Failed Expedition
Francisco Pizzaro was a Spanish conquistador, hungering for fame and money. He was the second cousin once removed of Hernan Cortes, who had successfully conquered the Aztec civilization, transforming it into the colony of New Spain (now Mexico). Pizzaro wanted to claim the Incan Empire, another American civilization, as a Spanish viceroyalty.
In 1530, Pizzaro and his 200 men set out from Panama, carrying cannons, guns, and horses, objects of which the Incans had never seen. However, while in the Panamanian rain forest, they had caught scurvy and rain forest fever. By the time they reached Incaland (Incan Empire), they were all sick. Incan scouts there caught their disease as well, but the Incans were immune to it, so they lived. Pizzaro and his men were not immune, and didn’t live.
Immediately after the death of Pizzaro and his group, Incan scouts spread the word throughout the Empire about this “strange group of white men who died from fever”. Eventually, the emperor heard about it. His name was Athacapula II the Great (reigned 1528-1568).
Athacapula the Great learned about the “weird swords and llamas the white men had”. The emperor decided this was proof of a foreign civilization that ruled to the north of Incaland. He decided to sign a treaty with them, or at least contact them.
In 1533, a man named Coronado, the governor of Spanish Venezuela, and about 340 men came to the Empire, sent by the Spanish government to negotiate a treaty with the Incans. The emperor welcomed them. Coronado was astonished by the advanced state of Incaland, who had developed a calendar, proper religion, and science. Coronado decided to teach Incaland about Europe and their customs, history, science, and medicine.
In August 1533, the Treaty of Cuzco was signed, laying out the following terms:
- There would be a peace between Incaland and the Spanish Crown and its colonies. Both promised never to go to war with each other, and to solve all problems by honorable negotiation.
- The Spanish promised to send missionaries, merchants, etc. into Incaland to teach the Incas about European history, culture, science, mathematics, and inventions.
- The Incas promised to respect Spanish sovereignty over Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and Central America.
The emperor then signed the Treaty. Coronado then signed the treaty as well, in the name of the Spanish Crown.
After the Treaty, the emperor began a modernization of Incaland.