The Spanish were able to conquer the Aztecs and Incas so easily due to a combination of factors including superior weaponry, disease, internal divisions and alliances with local enemies of these empires.
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The Spanish were able to conquer the Aztecs and Incas so easily due to a variety of factors. While there are still debates among historians about the precise reasons for their success, a number of key factors stand out.
One of the most significant factors was the technological superiority of the Spanish. The conquistadors had superior weapons, including swords, muskets, and cannon, which gave them a significant military advantage over the native peoples. In addition, they had horses, which the Aztecs and Incas had never seen before, and which struck fear into their opponents.
Another major factor was the devastating impact of disease on the native populations. The Aztecs and Incas had no immunity to diseases such as smallpox, which the Spanish brought with them, and this led to significant population declines and weakened the ability of these empires to resist Spanish conquest.
Internal divisions within the Aztec and Inca empires also played a role in their downfall. The Spanish were able to exploit existing tensions and rivalries between different groups to their advantage, making it easier to conquer these empires.
Moreover, the Spanish were able to form alliances with local enemies of the Aztecs and Incas, which further weakened their position. In many cases, these local enemies were also vassals of the Aztecs and Incas and had their own grievances against their overlords, making them more willing to side with the Spanish in their conquests.
As Professor Geoffrey Parker, a noted historian of early modern Europe, observes, “The horses, firearms, and armor of the conquistadors were each independently superior to anything the Indians could produce, and the combination made Spanish arms unbeatable.”
Here are some interesting facts about the conquest of the Aztecs and Incas:
- Hernán Cortés, who conquered the Aztecs, was initially sent to Mexico to explore the region, not to conquer it. However, he decided to seize the opportunity to establish a Spanish colony there.
- Francisco Pizarro, who conquered the Incas, was illiterate and had been a swineherd before joining the Spanish military.
- The Inca emperor Atahualpa offered to fill a large room with gold in exchange for his release from captivity, but Pizarro ultimately had him executed anyway.
- The conquest of the Aztecs was aided by the fact that many indigenous peoples in the region were unhappy with Aztec rule and were willing to help the Spanish.
- The Spanish conquistadors who arrived in the New World were seeking not only wealth and power, but also to spread Christianity. However, their efforts to convert indigenous peoples often led to the destruction of traditional beliefs and practices.
A possible table to summarize this information:
| Factors | Description |
|---|---|
| Technological superiority | The Spanish had superior weapons and horses, giving them an advantage in battle. |
| Disease | The Aztecs and Incas had no immunity to European diseases, which devastated their populations. |
| Internal divisions | Existing tensions and rivalries within the Aztec and Inca empires weakened their ability to resist Spanish conquest. |
| Alliances with local enemies | The Spanish formed alliances with indigenous groups who were unhappy with Aztec and Inca rule. |
Some additional responses to your inquiry
I think that the Spanish wanted to convert the Natives to co
Video answer to your question
The video provides a brief overview of the Spanish conquest of the Aztecs, led by Hernán Cortés. After forming an alliance with a Totanac chief, Cortés marched to the Aztec capital and eventually conquered it with the help of neighboring states. The Aztec emperor Montezuma II was arrested and later died during a rebellion in the city. Although the Spanish lost many men during their retreat, they were able to regroup and defeat the Aztecs once again. The surviving Aztecs were cast out and forbidden from living in the ashes of their former city, and the Spanish went on to conquer neighboring states and the Maya in the Yucatan Peninsula over the course of 170 years, aided by disease.
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How did Spain conquer the Aztecs so quickly?
As an answer to this: 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. Cortés’s victory destroyed the Aztec empire, and the Spanish began to consolidate control over what became the colony of New Spain.
Why did the Spanish have such an easy time conquering the Inca?
The response is: Spanish Technology Gave Them an Insurmountable Advantage
The Spanish were greatly outnumbered, but their horses, armor, and weapons gave them an advantage that proved too great for their enemies to overcome.
What are two reasons why the Spanish conducted conquests into Aztec and Inca empires?
They came in search of gold and souls — gold to enrich the coffers of the Spanish king (and their own), and heathen souls to rescue for Christianity. Within a generation, America’s ancient civilizations were crushed. Both the Aztec and Inca Empires collapsed after campaigns lasting just a couple of years.
What were the reasons why the Aztecs were so easily defeated by the Spanish?
The Aztec had no immunity to European diseases. Smallpox spread among the indigenous people and crippled their ability to resist the Spanish. The disease devastated the Aztec people, greatly reducing their population and killing an estimated half of Tenochtitlán’s inhabitants.
Who conquered the Aztec Empire?
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. What disease killed the Inca? How did smallpox help the Spanish conquer South America?
Why did the Spanish conquer the Inca Empire?
That the Spanish had been able to conquer the vast and sophisticated Inca Empire was partly due to the smallpox epidemic that spread viciously across the domain. Why did the Spanish defeat the Incas?
Why did the Aztecs resent the Spanish?
The answer is: While the Aztec’s monetary and religious demands empowered the empire, it also fostered resentment among surrounding city-states. Hernándo Cortés, Spanish conquistador who conquered Mexico, with Moctezuma II, last Aztec emperor, 1519. Hernándo Cortés formed part of Spain’s initial colonization efforts in the Americas.
How did the Spanish conquer Tenochtitlán?
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.