The Conquest Of Mexico: Tenochtitlan

The Aztec Empire was a society that existed between the fourteenth and the sixteenth century A.D. the Aztec civilisation was highly advanced for their time, There are many ways in which the Aztecs proved their advancement in their society; this included excelling in a number of fields such as their architecture, health and sanitation, engineering and agriculture. In 1325 the Aztecs began to construct the basic foundations of their city, which was located in the centre of lake Texcoco, the Aztecs named it Tenochtitlan.

The cry of war was heard between two nations that continually fought for land. Different boundaries are being claimed between America and Mexico for the fight of Texas, but the result is the increasing number of the dead. The United states chose to start the annexation of Texas. Mexico was angry with this unfair request. American troops were sent to southern Texas to only result in meeting the same set of foes. Gun shots were heard as U.S. troops and Mexican troops fought. As a result, James Polk, the president of the United States at the time, declared war on Mexico. The U.S. was not justified into going into war with Mexico because the Annexation of Texas and California was unofficial, Texas unfairly changed its borders after winning its

The Aztecs were a great Empire that lasted approximately 200 years. They entered the Valley of Mexico from North and founded their capital in the center of a lake. Their capital was called Tenochtitlan, and it was founded in 1325. In 1428 a Triple Alliance was formed with other two cities, Texcoco and Tlacopan, consolidating what we now call, the Great Aztec Empire. The primary source, The Broken Spears, not only tells us about the Conquest of the Aztec Empire by the Spaniards, but it reveals us some of their social, cultural and political aspects.

The Broken Spears, by Miguel Leon-Portilla, is an all-inclusive and compelling account of the Spanish conquest, told by the Aztecs also known as the conquered. Leon Portilla’s choice of events depicted in this book collides together giving the reader a broad view of the Spanish conquest. This book gives a history of emotional and spiritual human experiences, allowing the readers to comprehend, and relate to the Aztecs as they went through terror and faced their fears. This book provides an extensive amount of details concerning lack of leadership, bias and technological hardship that led to the Aztec defeat.

“Aztlan, Cibola and Frontier New Spain” is a chapter in Between the Conquests written by John R. Chavez. In this chapter Chavez states how Chicano and other indigenous American ancestors had migrated and how the migration help form an important part of the Chicanos image of themselves as a natives of the south.

Walter Nugent believes that the Mexican War was an exercise in American Imperialism, he suggest that America was imperialistic from its very beginnings. Norman Graebner disagrees with Nugent’s theory; he believes that President James Polk took it in his hands and demanded to purchase New Mexico and California from Mexico, however, when Mexico refused Polk, he had no choice but to force the territories which led to the Mexican War. The war has definitely impacted society today. There is a ton of bitterness because of this war, even today presidential candidates have suggested their political views in regards to Mexicans. I believe that the Mexican War was an exercise in American Imperialism because America has always focused on the country’s

Did you know that the Aztecs and the Spanish were both imperialist and expansionist people. Did you also know that in their respective areas they were the most powerful. The Mexicans now known as ,Aztecs, had a violent war with the Spanish who was led by a conquistador,Hernan Cortés, during the 1500’s in the place now known as Mexico. The Spanish were in search of gold which was one of the reasons that had led to the attack. The Spaniards and the Aztecs both were powerful especially during war. In this essay weaponry, military tactics, and reasons for war will be covered in this essay based on the Aztecs and Spanish.

First of all The Spanish were discovered the Aztec empire one year before their conquest and reached it . On the other hand, some native Americans in Tabasco tried to stop Hernan Cortes but in the end they gave up . After that Hernan Cortes started to control them and The native Americans supplied the Spanish with foods and what they needed. More over there were groups of people called Totonacs and Tlaxcala’s were against us and the Aztec rule , so Hernan courts exploited them and then they became allies for the Hernan courts army. Hernan courts controlled all of the cities in Aztec empires such as the capital Tenochtitlan , also he burned his ships to stop his army from going back to spain . The reasons why Hernan Cortes conquer our community and empire is because of the gold , silver , glory and greed .

The first European power to set-up permanent settlements in America were the Spanish. The first Spanish permanent base was set up by Nicolas de Ovando, who in 1502 arrived with 2,500 men. Then in 1519 a man named Hernan Cortes conquered the Aztec city using superior military technology and a disease called smallpox. The Aztec City takeover was the key to the Spanish success because they were warriors who were basically superior to their surrounding neighbors. The Aztecs were able to force the barbarian view on others, of course this was before the smallpox epidemic (Foner, 2012, pp.20-21)

The Spanish Conquistadors were able to conquer the Aztecs because they had superior weapons, strategies, and alliances. If the Aztecs were powerful Indians, why did they not attack instead of giving the conquistadors gifts? What made them not attack? How did they permit the conquistadors conquer them? Was it a legend or were the Indians just scared?

The Aztec society was organised through quite a stable and strong hierarchy. Citizens were divided into three different groups the Nobles and the Commoners as well as the lowest hierarchy the Slaves. Each city-state had a local ruler who was under the rule of the King. The Nobles and Commoners also had their own hierarchy with the most powerful commoner having almost as much power as the lowest of the Nobles. Education was also very important to the Aztec society, Boys would be taught how to fight as well as military history and religion. Girls would be taught crafts such as cooking and sewing. There was also two different education systems for children who wished to become Priests. The Aztecs ran a very strict and orderly law system to enforce

In the “Two letters to Charles V: On the Conquest of the Aztecs” written by Hernando Cortes in 1521 to the King of Spain and Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, Cortes describes the events that happened during his course in the New World, or as we call it today, the Americas. He also provides results from the conquest of the Aztec Empire of Mexico and he explains the reasoning behind the conditions of how it happened. In the second letter, Cortes includes a detailed description of “the great city of Tenochtitlan” comparing its size to cities in Spain such as Seville or Cordoba so that the king could have a better understanding of the territory. Surprisingly, the people that lived in this city were very advanced and similar to those of Spain as Cortes stated “[I]n the service and manners of its people, their fashion of living was almost the same as in Spain, with just as much harmony and order…”, showing that the Aztecs and other native Indians living at the time were not as savage and uncivilized as we usually think of them nowadays.

The arrival of Spanish adventurers to the coast of Mexico in 1519 set in motion the rapid descent of a vast and powerful indigenous empire that had controlled the land. The Spanish, led by Herman Cortes, embarked on a violent and extensive campaign across the Valley of Mexico. It was this campaign that led them to the great city of Tenochtitlan, capital of the feared and powerful Mexica Empire. On par with likes of Paris and Rome, Tenochtitlan was densely populated and intricately designed city that was home to a rich history. Despite these factors, its demise was met only a few years after the initial arrival of Cortes and his adventurers. This demise was precipitated by an outbreak of disease within the city, Spanish alliance with rival indigenous

‘Lo Mexicano’ is a phrase-turned-concept in 20th century Mexican philosophy. The term literally translates to “the Mexican,” however, it is also used to superficially describe the identity of the Mexican individual. The notion came about after the revolution; the phrase was meant to emphasize and unite Mexico as an independent people. Today, the phrase is understood as an all encompassing term for “mexicanness,” or that which makes someone a true mexican.

Aztecs built large and unique structures. They consisted of mainly temples and city walls. The Aztecs had codices that were books filled with collected information. They used pictures and symbols known as glyphs to write in them. The codices were filled with colorful pictures to show details of Aztec life. They also contained official government