Preview

Compare And Contrast The Spanish Conquest Of The Aztecs

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
425 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Compare And Contrast The Spanish Conquest Of The Aztecs
The Spanish conquest of the Aztecs in 1521, led by Hernando Cortes, was a landmark victory for the European settlers. Following the Spanish arrival in Mexico, a huge battle erupted between the army of Cortes and the Aztec people under the rule of Montezuma. The Aztecs are a tribe, according to their own legends, from Aztlan somewhere in the north of modern Mexico. A major part of their life was religion. A polytheistic people, they often practiced human sacrifice to please their gods . The Aztecs had good wealth from trading and heavy payments of tribute from conquered people. According to legend, the god Quetzalcoatl, characterized by light skin, red hair, and light eyes, was supposed to return to earth. This appearance is very similar to …show more content…
But to the astonishment of the Spaniards, no force is needed. Cortés wasted no time in taking claim for god and King. He challenged the natives and entered Tenochtitlan, taking the Aztec leader, Montezuma, hostage which led to the Aztec uprising that culminated in La Noche Triste . The Spaniards had the advantage over the Aztecs in every way except for numbers. They had strange animals that the Aztecs had never seen before such as the horse, which they thought were connected to the Spaniards. The horses allowed the Spaniards to tower over the battling Aztecs giving them an advantage on spotting on coming attacks. The Spaniards also had guns, swords, cannons, and metal shields to protect their bodies . The Aztecs didn’t try to kill the Spaniards but instead tried to use them as sacrifices. They’d beat them with their wooden weapons or throw spears at them to injure them. Despite Cortés’s encountering a few setbacks, there was no contest, and he managed to subdue five million Aztecs with his tiny army. Not only did they beat the Aztecs in battle, the diseases syphilis and smallpox helped them by killing off half of the Aztecs
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    why did the spanish conquer the aztecs?
    • 541 Words
    • 3 Pages

    why did the spanish conquer the aztecs?

    The Spanish were ready to conquer or make an alliance with anyone on their expedition to Tenochtitlan. Cortes the leader of the Spaniards brought eleven ships, five hundred and eight fighting men, one hundred sailors, two hundred indigenous slaves, and sixteen horses on his way to find gold and glory. The Spaniards would fight to kill while the Aztecs would capture their enemies and sacrifice them to their gods. Due to this difference in worldview the Aztec’s weapons were also different from the European weapons that the Spanish used. Even though the Spaniards had advantages the Aztecs were able to defeat them once, before the epidemic struck.…

    • 541 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Broken Spears
    • 854 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Broken Spears

    The author argues that the Spanish were completely at fault for the total destruction of the Aztec Empire. In Broken spears, the author explains how many factors other than Spanish power contributed to the downfall of the Aztecs. Not only did the Spanish have many advantages over the Aztecs, but also they also exploited them and took advantage of the cultural difference. The main key aspects to the Spanish victory, is that the Spanish were viewed as gods at first because of their appearance, the Aztecs welcomed the Spanish with gifts and festivities, which showed the Spanish had total control of people. The Aztecs also held a ritual ceremony for the arrival of the "god" that included a human sacrifice, which was seen by the Spanish as a disgusting act, this trigged Spanish hatred for the Aztecs. When the Spanish saw the resources that the Aztecs had, they quickly started taking advantage of the Aztecs weaknesses. The Spanish had more power; they were better equipped than the Aztecs and more advanced. The Aztecs' leader Montecuhzoma was a weak leader, he was more of a coward, more concerned with his well being and safety than the safety of his people and kingdom so he quickly surrendered under pressure. The Spanish used surrounding enemy tribes to take over the Aztec lands, then began to massacre men, women and children. When the Aztec became angry and started to fight back, they were quickly wrecked by the diseases the Spanish brought with them such as small pox and measles. The Spanish were immune to these diseases because they were well known in Europe and they had been exposed to them for years, but the Aztecs weren't so entire villages were wiped out in just few weeks which cleared the way for the Spanish to entirely conquer and destroy the Aztec empire.…

    • 854 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Spanish Influence On The Aztecs
    • 1695 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Spanish Influence On The Aztecs

    Have you ever wondered the methods in history, to wipe out a powerful empire? Hernan Cortes, the Spanish conquistador conquered the Aztec Empire and claimed Mexico for Spain, in the 16th century. The Aztecs were a Nahuatl speaking nation of central Mexico, in MesoAmerica. They were very powerful and wealthy in natural goods, in addition to creating their own weapons and techniques. When Hernan Cortes came to the land of the heart of the Aztecs, he had brought unknown weapons and diseases to the Aztecs, as well as an army of men. He also had a spy/translator to help communicate between the 2 nations, but most importantly, Cortes killed the Aztec emperor, and destroyed their religious temples! These acts influenced the power of the Aztecs…

    • 1695 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Compare Aztec And Inca Civilizations
    • 647 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Compare Aztec And Inca Civilizations

    I think the Aztecs were more impressive, in one of the captions I read that one of their squares was twice as large as the city of Salamanca surrounded by porticoes daily sixty thousand people are buying and selling all kinds of merchandise that the world has to offer embracing the necessaries things of life. In the same square there are some people who constantly go around watching sells and the measures used for sales these people have been known to go around and stop unfair deals or break the measures completely.…

    • 647 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Defeating the Aztec Empire
    • 2644 Words
    • 11 Pages

    Defeating the Aztec Empire

    The first phase of the Spanish invasion of Mexico took place in April 1519. In defiance of the Governor of Cuba and his expedition sponsor, Cortes took control over his forces and moved them inland. On the way, Cortes met resistance from other locals, who he eventually conquered and absolved into his army as allies. After reaching Tenochtitlan, capital of the Aztec Capital, the Spaniards were initially greeted as foreign ambassadors. Other claims state that the Aztecs viewed Cortes as the god, Quetzalcoatl (Windschuttle, 50). The Spanish did not return the favor, eventually kidnapping Emperor Montezuma and, using him as a puppet, ran the country. The Governor…

    • 2644 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Cortes Conquers the Aztecs: Spanish Conquest or Indian Civil War
    • 781 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Cortes Conquers the Aztecs: Spanish Conquest or Indian Civil War

    The Spanish conquests of Montezuma and the Aztecs were both a Spanish conquest as well as an Indian civil war. The thing that ties them both together is the Conquistador Hernan Cortes. You could argue for both sides as to which played a more significant part in the fall of the Aztecs, however, I feel they both played an equal role in the defeat of the Aztecs and the fall of Tenochititlan to the Spaniards.…

    • 781 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Mexico: Hernan Cortes's Invasion Of Mexico
    • 1396 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Mexico: Hernan Cortes's Invasion Of Mexico

    Hernan Cortes traveled to Mexico in 1519 with a group of men and 11 ships, after ignoring Diego Velasquez’s orders, where he then continued to have many encounters with the Aztecs because he wanted to overthrow Aztec ruler Montezuma . In addition, Hernan Cortes’s exploration of the Aztec territory led to an exchange of disease that helped lead to Cortes’s success. Ultimately, Hernan Cortes’s conquer of the Aztec Empire is a significant historical event because he explored the territory of Mexico, had various encounters with the Aztecs and other groups of people, and exchanged diseases with them.…

    • 1396 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Cortes and Conquering the Great Aztec Empire
    • 2687 Words
    • 11 Pages

    Cortes and Conquering the Great Aztec Empire

    When Cortes heard of a vast and wealthy empire deep within the Mexican interior, the conquest of Mexico had already begun. The Aztec empire was what the ambitious Cortes had been looking for since his departure from Spain; he most certainly hoped that his wish to discover the empire would come true. The Aztecs, on the other hand, did not know Cortes. The empire was as it always had been; the Aztecs had no serious premonition of war. Cortes knew nothing of the size and power of the Aztec empire and if he did, his decision to bring only a few hundred men was certainly a gross misjudgment. The conquest of Mexico remains surprising for this reason: it seems puzzling that such a huge conflict could stem from two opposing forces, one of which was so terribly ill-prepared for war. As Inga Clendinnen states; "How was it that a motley bunch of Spanish adventurers, never numbering much more than four hundred or so, was able to defeat an Amerindian military power on its home ground in the space of two years?"…

    • 2687 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Did Cortes Influence The Aztecs?
    • 643 Words
    • 3 Pages

    How Did Cortes Influence The Aztecs?

    Monctezuma was born in 1466 and died on June 29th 1520. Monectzuma was the leader of the Aztec Empire from 1502 – 1520. The Spaniard murdered Montezuma in cold blood in order to complete their conquest of his empire. The Spanish relationship with Monctezuma was very manipulative and deceiving. From the beginning Cortes made moves to openly try to undermined Monctezuma. Cortes made early alliances with the know enemies of Monctezuma and the Aztecs. This is not the actions of a good and trust worthy friend. Someone who is trying to become friends with a person they don’t know well doesn’t make friends with their enemies.…

    • 643 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Latin American Colonialism
    • 817 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Latin American Colonialism

    When the Europeans arrived in 1519, they took Latin America by a storm. Once of the Europeans, Cortes found allies to take over the Aztec empire. Leading with the city if Tenochtitlan, Cortes takes over each Aztec city, to ultimately…

    • 817 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Victory of Spanish over the Aztecs. Essay Example
    • 544 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The Victory of Spanish over the Aztecs. Essay Example

    The victory of Cortes over the Aztec was the result of certain military advantages the conquistadors enjoyed, as well as specific problems that weakened the Aztec people and made the empire more vulnerable. It is almost impossible to believe that a small amount of Spanish soldiers were able to conquer the mighty Aztec empire in this historic battle.…

    • 544 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Did The Spanish Fight Over The Aztec Empire
    • 616 Words
    • 3 Pages

    How Did The Spanish Fight Over The Aztec Empire

    The worshiped a war-god, called Huitzilopochtli, which he was identified with the sun and their war god. Their religion has them human sacrifice, and it has a huge role in war as well, the Aztecs would not fight to kill, but they fought to capture. While the Spanish were ready to kill. The Spanish had a full advantage in technology, since they were the side that were fighting to kill they had the equipment to do so. They had cannons on their ships and carried shields and swords, while the Aztecs had spears and wooden shields. Although technology was a major reason of the defeat, another reason for the defeat was the lack of…

    • 616 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Geography of the Ancient Aztecs
    • 321 Words
    • 1 Page

    Geography of the Ancient Aztecs

    The Aztecs were an Indian people who began as a migrant tribe. This means that they were always searching for a new place to settle. Their tribes were descendents of people who came from Siberia and Alaska during the ice age.…

    • 321 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Victors and Vanquished
    • 1415 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Victors and Vanquished

    The history of the Western hemisphere is full of war and conquest. One of the most significant and defining of those conquests is the downfall of the Mexica/Aztec Empire. While there are many other events to choose from, this one stands out since it was one over one of the largest empires in Central America. It is also important to look at because of the immense cultural impact it had. The story of this takeover reads like a movie script, a small band of Spaniards single handedly takes down the most powerful empire in Central America. It was an epic battle, which unfortunately led to the destruction of a magnificent culture. As in any major historical event there are many underlying themes and storylines that come together to make the event happen. The Spanish conquest of the Aztec is no different. Three major themes are seen in this struggle. One of them is the incredible advantage that the Spaniards technology gave them over the Aztecs. A second major theme is the greed that fueled the conquests in the New World. The last major theme was the effect of the political divisions and rivalries within Montezuma's Central American Kingdom. As this historical event progressed each one of these themes began to intertwine until they became an almost unstoppable force.…

    • 1415 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Broken Spears Quotes
    • 472 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Broken Spears Quotes

    Montezuma, who was the ruler of the Aztecs, had a funny feeling about them. Not too long after they arrived, the Aztecs realized that the Spanish could be killed just like their other enemies, so they went to war. They caught some of the Spanish, killed some of them, even ate some. The Spanish won out because of their preparation, and because they brought so many diseases with them, it killed some of the Aztecs as well. The Spanish came to the Aztecs land, and the Aztecs thought that this was the 'God' that they had been waiting for. They treated the Spanish with riches and lavish food, as they would a God. They only treated them to the finest of treasures because they were sure this was what they were looking for. The Spanish reported that they 'were sickened by the people's shocking routines', which was mentioning toward the sacrifice they saw. Then, when the Spanish tried to take advantage of what the Aztecs had given them, they realized they weren’t the Gods they thought they were looking for. So they cut them off. Conversely, the Spaniards had the horses, firearms, and they had most of the people of the Aztec society on their side. With that being said, the Spaniards didn’t like how the Aztec land was being run. With these people and the Spanish's knowledge expansions, they overthrew the Aztec Empire. After the Aztecs were conquered by the Spaniards, they were turned into…

    • 472 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More