What Factors Allowed The Spanish Force To Overtake The Aztecs
How was a small Spanish army able to defeat the entirety of the large, warlike Aztec empire in only two years? While there are many contributing factors that led to a victory against such odds, there are a few key causes that allowed the Spanish force to overcome the Aztecs. Namely, there are three most important factors: 1. The trusting nature of the Aztecs toward the Spaniards, 2. The differences in warfare between the two forces, and 3. The more advanced technology of the Spaniards. These three factors will be discussed and explored in this paper. Aztecs’ Trust of Spaniards One of the most important factors that allowed the Spaniards to overtake the Aztecs was the generally trusting attitude the Aztecs held toward the Spaniards. This can be broken down further into two different aspects. First, many Aztecs, including, most importantly, their ruler Motecuhzoma, initially “…believ[ed] that they might be Quetzalcoatl and other divinities returning to Mexico, as the codices and traditions promised they would." …show more content…
The Aztecs greeted them when they first arrived in Mexico with many gifts of welcome, made with materials highly valuable to the Aztecs such as gold, quetzal feathers, turquoise, shells, and mother-of-pearl (León-Portilla 23-25). And when the Spaniards arrived at the capital city of Tenochtitlan, Motecuhzoma greeted them with gifts of gold and flowers and praised them as gods (León-Portilla 63-64). Had the Spaniards been peaceful, this would not be relevant; however, the Spaniards took advantage of this openness and kindness from the Aztecs and immediately imprisoned Motecuhzoma and placed a guard over the city. Had the Aztecs not viewed the Spaniards as gods and welcomed them into their city without any suspicion, the Spaniards would have had a much harder, perhaps impossible time defeating
Why The Diaz Account Is Sugar Coated And Biased?
1660 Words | 7 PagesThe culture of both the Aztecs and Spaniards have similarities, as many different groups of people do. A main theme that was insinuated between both accounts into the culture of the two groups was respect of authority. “When Motecuhzoma had given necklaces to each one, …” “Then he stood up to welcome Cortes; he came forward, bowed his head low …” (Broken Spears 608).
How Did The Tlaxcalans Benefit From Conquering Mexico
272 Words | 2 PagesSo, the Spanish had many benefits from conquering Mexico. Believe it or not, the Tlaxcalans helped the Spanish Conquistadors conquer Mexico. Initially, when Spanish arrived in Mexico, they had a small force of about 400 soldiers and 12 horses. As they traveled, they gained allies, enemies of the Aztecs, the Tlaxcalans. The Tlaxcalans battled against
Why Did Hernando Cortes Able To Conquer The Aztecs
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Why Did The Tlaxcalans Conquer The Aztec Empire
1426 Words | 6 PagesAt first, the Tlaxcalans fought the conquistadors viciously, but after repeated defeats, they decided to make peace with the Spanish and ally with them against their traditional enemies. The aid provided by the Tlaxcalans would eventually prove crucial for Cortes in his campaign. Tlaxcala and the Aztec Empire in 1519 From 1420 or so to 1519, the mighty Mexica culture had come to dominate most of central Mexico. One by one, the Mexica had conquered and subjugated dozens of neighboring cultures and city-states, turning them into strategic allies or resentful vassals.
Why Did The Spanish Work In The Aztecs
75 Words | 1 PagesAztecs had a wide majority of power over Southern Mexico, Guatemala, and Yucatan. Spanish arrived in Mexico in 1519, and wanted to take advantage of the massive amount of silver, the mines produced in the Aztec’s land. In South America, ingitis labor was cheaper, so it was beneficial to the Spanish to use these people to work in the mines to earn them high valued items that they can take back to the Old
Aztec Advancement
1016 Words | 5 PagesThe triumph of the Aztec and Incan domains were for the most part basic battles. A few reasons in the matter of why it was so regular were because these areas were isolated, they don't know anything of the new world and distinctive social orders, they assumed that the Europeans points were of no congruity to them and stigmatized them. Another reason was advancement. Advancement was a gigantic part in the triumph of these areas Indian war systems were old and out dated. They were no match for the Spanish and their firearms, crossbows, swords, covering, shields, and the hand held dark powder weapon.
How Did Cortes Influence The Aztec Civilization
613 Words | 3 PagesDuring 1519, we landed on the Mexican coast to do our business there; search for some gold and riches. Suddenly, Cortes started to hear about a wealthy civilization known as the Aztec Empire. We, his army of five hundred soldiers including Cortes marched towards Tenochtitlan—the Aztec capital. He proclaimed that all he wanted to do there was to get rid of the Aztecs Indians that
How Did African Americans Influence European Imperialism
1057 Words | 5 PagesMany of them were opposed to the Europeans coming in and claiming their land as theirs, whereas many of them wanted to create trading partners or even went as far as to believe they were gods. When the Spaniards first arrived at what was most likely Tulum on the Yucatan peninsula they were greet by many indigenous people with gifts for them, gifts of gold which made the Spaniards practically jump for joy at the thought of wealth and recognition (Stuart 117). This is how many of the explorers were met when they first arrived in the New World, but after the natives realized their true intentions they would most likely end up going to war. There was an Aztec woman of approximately 17 years of age who served as an interpreter between the Aztecs and the Spaniards, her name was Malinalli/ Doña Marina, but is more commonly known as La Malinche in Mexico, she ended marrying Hernan Cortés and had the first known mestizo, Martín Cortés (Pohl and Robinson 99). This shows that there were many people who wanted to interact more with the Spaniards and it also left a lasting impact because to this day many people view her as a traitor to her own people, but there is still argument that she was the first of many to have a mestizo which most of the Mexican population is nowadays.
Advantages Of The Spanish Conquistadors Over The Aztecs
245 Words | 1 PagesThe Spanish Conquistadors had the advantage over the Aztecs in many ways. One way they used was using allies against thee Aztecs. The Aztecs was a tribute empire, where they required
Why The Aztecs Civilization Was The Option Out Of Three With The Greatest Power
219 Words | 1 PagesFor proof of their power, the Aztecs were immense believers in gods and sacrificing others. The Aztecs went to war then, captured others to sacrifice. Hence they could not have done their intense sacrifice without neighboring civilization’s
The Broken Spears Summary
573 Words | 3 PagesThe author gives insight on how many ways the Spaniards used their power to assist in the downfall of the Aztecs. The reason why the Spaniards became victorious, was because the Spaniards were looked upon as if they were gods because of their outer appearance. The Aztecs broke bread and welcomed the Spaniards with gifts and parties. The Aztecs triggered their relationship with the Spaniards by holding a ritual for the arrival of the god which included a human sacrifice. The Spaniards didn’t agree with the rituals and began to despise the Aztecs.
How Did The Aztecs Lifestyle Altered Because Of The Spanish?
899 Words | 4 PagesAdjustments in areas such as the Aztecs’ very worldview, as well as beliefs in religion. Following this, reconstruction in the Aztecs’ way of talking and writing were enforced by the Conquistadors, who spoke Spanish and wrote in words instead of pictures. During the Spanish Conquest, the Aztecs’ lifestyle changed dramatically due to a whole new language replacing their own, they dropped to the bottom of the hierarchy where they were once the
Battle Of Tenochtitlan Analysis
1094 Words | 5 PagesThe most obvious is the shier size and composition difference. The Aztec force stood 300,000 warriors versus 700 Spanish infantrymen, 86 cavalrymen, and 118 crossbowmen were comprised of volunteers and adventurers, and over 50,000 Native Americans allied forces (Davis, 1999, p. xx). Aztec obsidian clubs and bows and arrows proved no match for the emerging technology armored infantrymen and cavalry of the Europeans.
Aztec Dbq Essay
221 Words | 1 PagesA possible reason for why the Spanish conquered the Aztecs was the Spanish wanted to spread Christianity. Two sources corroborate that Spain wanted to spread Christianity. According to Document A, it says “There is to be a church and a chaplain entrusted with indoctrinating and teaching them our Holy Catholic faith.” The government was paying for the churches and making sure the culture is spread from town to town. As a result of the churches being established in the Aztec Empire, the Aztecs have to practice the religion and learning the culture of Spain.
Hernan Cortes Hero
975 Words | 4 PagesUsing war equipment that the Aztec had never seen before and different battle techniques, Cortes and his men were able to quickly and effectively conquer Tenochtitlan. During battle against the Aztecs, animals from Spain that served in many battles called horses (about twelve), as well as swords and crossbows (a much more advanced version of the Aztec war club and spear-thrower) were labelled as advanced technology as they were quicker, deadlier, and consequently more efficient. These many advantages against the Aztecs and their traditional weapons; and therefore the Spaniards won many battles alongside their allies, and succeeded greatly by using guns that were far more powerful than the Aztecs' weapons. Unfair as it is, this gave the Spanish explorer a supremacy in conquering one of the most elaborate European cities at the time. “The Aztecs were unable to rebel against the Spaniards because most of them were sick or dead from smallpox.
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