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.
Cortes’s also tried to buy off Monctezuma when he wrote in his letter "Moctezuma came down the middle of this street with …show more content…
Cortes came to this new land with weapons and soldiers therefore they didn’t come to make friends they came for conquest and war. A man coming with an army is coming looking for war not looking for peace. The Spanish have also had a horrible record of violence against the Aztecs one being the Massacre at the festival of Toxcatl. One Aztec wrote of the account of what took place “Once they had done this, they entered the Sacred Patio to kill people. They came on foot, carrying swords and wooden and metal shields. Immediately, they surrounded those who danced, then rushed to the place where the drums were played. They attacked the man who was drumming and cut off both his arms. Then they cut off his head [with such a force] that it flew off, falling far away. At that moment, they then attacked all the people, stabbing them, spearing them, wounding them with their swords. They struck some from behind, who fell instantly to the ground with their entrails hanging out [of their bodies]. They cut off the heads of some and smashed the heads of others into little pieces” (Aztec Account of Massacre at the Festival of Toxcatl)
Additionally the Spanish justification for this massacre was there was a plot against the Spanish formulated by the Aztecs. Furthermore the Spanish are murderers and if they do not have any respect for the people of the Aztec empire they wouldn’t have any respect for Montezuma. Before his murder Cortes and his high-ranking officers had Montezuma arrested and placed under house arrest. What kind of so called friend will place their friend under house arrest. This shows that Cortes wanted to have supervision of
Cortes’s also tried to buy off Monctezuma when he wrote in his letter "Moctezuma came down the middle of this street with …show more content…
Cortes came to this new land with weapons and soldiers therefore they didn’t come to make friends they came for conquest and war. A man coming with an army is coming looking for war not looking for peace. The Spanish have also had a horrible record of violence against the Aztecs one being the Massacre at the festival of Toxcatl. One Aztec wrote of the account of what took place “Once they had done this, they entered the Sacred Patio to kill people. They came on foot, carrying swords and wooden and metal shields. Immediately, they surrounded those who danced, then rushed to the place where the drums were played. They attacked the man who was drumming and cut off both his arms. Then they cut off his head [with such a force] that it flew off, falling far away. At that moment, they then attacked all the people, stabbing them, spearing them, wounding them with their swords. They struck some from behind, who fell instantly to the ground with their entrails hanging out [of their bodies]. They cut off the heads of some and smashed the heads of others into little pieces” (Aztec Account of Massacre at the Festival of Toxcatl)
Additionally the Spanish justification for this massacre was there was a plot against the Spanish formulated by the Aztecs. Furthermore the Spanish are murderers and if they do not have any respect for the people of the Aztec empire they wouldn’t have any respect for Montezuma. Before his murder Cortes and his high-ranking officers had Montezuma arrested and placed under house arrest. What kind of so called friend will place their friend under house arrest. This shows that Cortes wanted to have supervision of