Spanish Conquest Research Paper
On 13 August 1521 the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan, had fallen to the Spanish conquistadors. Cortes and his followers had only landed in Mexico in April 1519. By the time of Cortes’ last departure form Spain in 1540; Mexico City had become a powerful colonial metropolis, the capital of a Spanish territory extending south into Central America and North to or beyond the Gulf of California. The campaign waged by Cortes was so successful that all ensuing campaigns were modelled upon the Aztec conquest. The question posed is how was the conquest of Mexico achieved in such a small space of time? It would seem unfeasible that a small army of soldiers could overcome thousands of Native Americans on their own soil; Tenochtitlan was a perfect location
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Their religious views of warfare inhibited their actions in certain ways. Preoccupations with human sacrifice caused them to seek captives rather than corpses. Also their liturgical traditions, which insisted that operations be prefaced by elaborate ceremonies only served to alert the Spaniards of attack. The Aztecs were perhaps weakened psychologically through their traditions, such as their fear of cavalry and gunfire.
wns on the Gulf of Mexico. Hence it is clear that for many native peoples in the region of Veracruz, where the first conquering Spanish landed, invasion was not so unusual. This may fare well to explain the ease with which Cortes and his men established their mainland foothold.
Religion certainly played a major part in the Conquest of Mexico. However it’s actual impact on the rapidity of the conquest, especially in the early stages, is limited. On the side of the Native Americans, their religious beliefs proved to be at their own disadvantage. For the Spaniards, their devotion to Catholicism provided a plausible excuse for the crusade. As well as the search for gold and silver, the Spaniards held a religious mission, without which Spanish expansion may have not been so conceivable, or at least taken a different form. The discovery and conquest of America was spirited by missionary expansion and sustained throughout by Church resources. Spain had of course the first reformed Church in Europe. The experience of the Moors and infidel in the Peninsula itself is an example of her intolerance and anxiety to extend the faith. Thus Spain had the confidence and the personnel to play this vital role in colonial
Their religious views of warfare inhibited their actions in certain ways. Preoccupations with human sacrifice caused them to seek captives rather than corpses. Also their liturgical traditions, which insisted that operations be prefaced by elaborate ceremonies only served to alert the Spaniards of attack. The Aztecs were perhaps weakened psychologically through their traditions, such as their fear of cavalry and gunfire.
wns on the Gulf of Mexico. Hence it is clear that for many native peoples in the region of Veracruz, where the first conquering Spanish landed, invasion was not so unusual. This may fare well to explain the ease with which Cortes and his men established their mainland foothold.
Religion certainly played a major part in the Conquest of Mexico. However it’s actual impact on the rapidity of the conquest, especially in the early stages, is limited. On the side of the Native Americans, their religious beliefs proved to be at their own disadvantage. For the Spaniards, their devotion to Catholicism provided a plausible excuse for the crusade. As well as the search for gold and silver, the Spaniards held a religious mission, without which Spanish expansion may have not been so conceivable, or at least taken a different form. The discovery and conquest of America was spirited by missionary expansion and sustained throughout by Church resources. Spain had of course the first reformed Church in Europe. The experience of the Moors and infidel in the Peninsula itself is an example of her intolerance and anxiety to extend the faith. Thus Spain had the confidence and the personnel to play this vital role in colonial