Hernán Cortés
What were three reasons why the Spanish defeated the Aztecs?
The overthrow of the Aztec Empire by Cortez and his expedition rests on three factors: The fragility of that empire, the tactical advantages of Spanish technology, and smallpox .
Why did the Spanish defeat the Aztecs?
After a three-month siege, Spanish forces under Hernán Cortés capture Tenochtitlán , the capital of the Aztec empire. ... The conquered peoples resented the Aztec demands for tribute and victims for the religious sacrifices, but the Aztec military kept rebellion at bay.
Why did the Spanish conquer the Aztecs and the Incas?
The Spanish wanted to convert the Aztecs to Christianity to control them . They went about destroying the Aztec religious symbols, temples, and they killed, tortured and kidnapped people. Aztecs were forced to convert. The same was done to other indigenous peoples and civilizations, including the Incas.
Why did the Spanish conquer Mexico?
The conquest of Mexico began with an expedition to search for gold on the American mainland . In 1519 Cortés led about 450 men to Mexico and made his way from Veracruz on the Gulf Coast to the island city of Tenochtitlan, the stunningly beautiful Aztec capital situated in Lake Texcoco.
What did the Spanish think of the Aztecs?
The Spanish seemed to have somewhat mixed feelings about the Aztecs. They were awe inspired by the Aztec magnificent capital city, Tenochtitlan ...
How did Aztec civilization end?
Invaders led by the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés overthrew the Aztec Empire by force and captured Tenochtitlan in 1521 , bringing an end to Mesoamerica’s last great native civilization.
What language did the Aztecs speak?
Nahuatl language, Spanish náhuatl, Nahuatl also spelled Nawatl, also called Aztec, American Indian language of the Uto-Aztecan family, spoken in central and western Mexico. Nahuatl, the most important of the Uto-Aztecan languages, was the language of the Aztec and Toltec civilizations of Mexico.
How many Aztecs were killed by the Spanish?
More than 3 million Aztecs died from smallpox, and with such a severely weakened population, it was easy for the Spanish to take Tenochtitlán.
How much gold did the Spanish take from the Aztecs?
At that point, it is estimated that the Spanish had amassed some eight thousand pounds of gold and silver, not to mention plenty of feathers, cotton, jewels and more.
How long did it take the Spanish to conquer the Aztecs?
Spanish conquistadores commanded by Hernán Cortés allied with local tribes to conquer the Aztec capital city of Tenochtitlán. Cortés’s army besieged Tenochtitlán for 93 days , and a combination of superior weaponry and a devastating smallpox outbreak enabled the Spanish to conquer the city.
What happened to the Aztecs and Incas?
Both the Aztec and the Inca empires were conquered by Spanish conquistadors ; the Aztec Empire was conquered by Cortés, and the Inca Empire was defeated by Pizarro. The Spanish had an advantage over native peoples because the former had guns, cannons, and horses.
Why were the Aztecs and Incas conquered so easily?
The Spanish explorer Francisco Pizarro invaded the Incan Empire in 1532, seeking riches . The Inca had already had some contact with Europeans, and many had died of European diseases. The empire was also weakened by a civil war between two ruling brothers. Pizarro manipulated the two sides, eventually defeating both.
Are Aztecs still around?
Today the descendants of the Aztecs are referred to as the Nahua. More than one-and-a-half million Nahua live in small communities dotted across large areas of rural Mexico , earning a living as farmers and sometimes selling craft work. ... The Nahua are just one of nearly 60 indigenous peoples still living in Mexico.
What did the Spaniards take from Mexico?
At first, Spaniards destroyed Mexican culture(civilizations, heritage buildings). They slaughtered many natives and took lots of resources, such as silver and gold from Mexico, however, they never gave anything in return. Spain made Encomienda system and enslaved natives.
Who found Mexico first?
Francisco Hernández de Córdoba , the first European to visit Mexican territory, arrives in the Yucatán from Cuba with three ships and about 100 men.
