Spanish Conquest Of The Aztecs

The following sample essay on “The Spanish Conquest of the Aztecs” traces the relationship between the Spanish conquests of Montezuma and the Aztecs. In particular, the role of Conquistador Hernan Cortes is being explored.

The Spanish conquerings of Montezuma and the Aztecs were both a Spanish conquering every bit good as an Indian civil war. The thing that ties them both together is the Conquistador Hernan Cortes. You could reason for both sides as to which played a more important portion in the autumn of the Aztecs.

nevertheless. I feel they both played an equal function in the licking of the Aztecs and the autumn of Tenochititlan to the Spaniards.

When Cortezs foremost came to Mexico. he did non cognize the linguistic communication spoken by the Indian folk. He was fortunate plenty to hold two translators ; Aguilar. a shipwrecked Spaniard who had learned the Maya linguistic communication. and Malinche. Malinche was a immature maiden “given” to Cortes as an offering. Between her and Aguilar.

Cortes was able to go familiar with the manner the Aztecs lived. idea. and fought. He used this tactic to help in expedition and to guard against any onslaughts.

By far. one of the biggest ruins of Montezuma and the Aztecs was the function of the God Quetzalcoatl. The bulk of the Aztecs’ lives and beliefs was centered on their Supreme beings. One of their biggest beliefs was of the God Quetzalcoatl. the feathery snake. Montezuma believed that Cortes was the human version of Quetzalcoatl. The fable of Quetzalcoatl depicted a bearded.

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white God who looked similar to Cortes. Quetzalcoatl was outstanding during the Toltec regulation and had purportedly left the vale because he was unhappy with the manner things were. The Aztecs believed he was expected to return and convey back good times and good luck. Cortezs took advantage of their beliefs and immersed himself into the Aztecs lives.

Against the advice of his royal household. Montezuma welcomed Cortes and the Spaniards with unfastened weaponries. They wanted Montezuma to kill the aliens. The Aztecs tried giving the Spaniards gold and other wealths to acquire them to go forth their metropolis. This merely fueled their desire and aspirations for more. and they refused to go forth. The more they gave. the more the Spaniards wanted. Cortezs made Montezuma a captive of his ain metropolis. which led to an rebellion by the Aztecs known as “La Noche Triste” . or The Sad Night. Many lives were lost on both sides.

Many other factors contributed to Cortes’ triumph over the Aztecs. His soldiers had far more superior arms and they had Equus caballuss. The Aztecs were really afraid of the Equus caballuss because they had ne’er seen anything like them before. Disease besides played a immense portion in the licking of the Aztecs. The Spanish brought complaints that the Aztecs had no unsusceptibilities for. Three-fourths died from either force or diseases such as small-pox and the rubeolas in merely the first century of the conquerings.

The Aztecs’ tactics of war were rather different from those of the Spaniards. and this was besides a point in the Spaniards’ favour. The Spaniards fought to kill. The Aztecs did non. The Aztecs fought to gaining control and acquire captives so they could subsequently utilize them as human forfeits to their Supreme beings. In fact. Cortes himself was captured several times but was re-captured by his work forces and rescued.

The most of import factor by far in the licking of the Aztecs by Cortes. harmonizing to some historiographers. is the aid he received from the other suppressed Indian folk in the country. This is why I believe one could see this as non merely a Spanish conquering. but besides as an Indian civil war. These other Indian folks chose to assist Cortes battle because they felt they would profit greatly from the licking of the Aztecs. They were tired of populating under the Aztecs’ regulation and proverb Cortes as a type of hero. or liberator. They were more than happy to assist pay a war against the Aztecs if it meant they could hold better lives.

After many deceases on both sides. The Aztec capitol fell in August of 1521. After capturing Tenochititlan. the Spaniards destroyed the metropolis and on top of it built was is now present twenty-four hours Mexico City. I believe the predating statements back up my statement that the most of import factors in the death of Montezuma and the Aztecs were from the equal combination of holding to cover with a Spanish conquering and an Indian civil war.