Aztec Empire Downfall

The Aztec empire was very prosperous during the time Spanish ships set shore on their land. Multiple factors lead to the fall of what was to become one of the most powerful and advanced civilisations in the world. Most of these contributors are likely unknown by the modern world, but there are some that we are sure caused the defeat of the Aztecs. The conflict and fall of the Aztec empire was unavoidable. Things such as human sacrifice, religion, and disease all played a part in the Aztec empire’s loss.

Human sacrificing was one of the largest factors that lead to the tragic end to the Aztecs. There was more than only one way that sacrificing harmed their empire. Killing thousands and thousands of people can not benefit any society, including

Aztec gods were displayed as humans and the people worshiped human figures. As the domain continued to be taken over by Spanish forces, religion among the Aztecs started to fade. At first, the Aztec people believed that Cortes was one of their gods. His differing appearance from them, and the time of his arrival began the belief that he Huitzilopochtli. Huitzilopochtli was the Aztec war god, and he was set to return and take his empire back. Montezuma and his people welcomed the Spaniard and showered him with gifts. Some historians today say that even the well educated nobles believed Cortes was a god, but not for long. It is also thought the Aztec warriors did not not completely destroy the Spanish army, because they wanted to have some of the men used as sacrificial victims for their gods. This error quickened the fall of the once thriving empire. Since Cortes was a god in their eyes, his banishment caused controversy between the people. His absence made it easier for the union to tumble. Although the Aztec religion might have played a part in building the empire, it was definitely a huge part to its

After Cortes landed, another army came from Cuba to make sure he was following orders given from Spain. Cortes did not tolerate the army’s arrival, so he went to fight against the troops. In their group, there was an African man being held captive as a slave. He was infected by smallpox, a fairly contagious disease. One of Cortes’ men caught the disease while fighting the other army. When the Spanish returned, the Aztec warriors overwhelmed them, killing many and causing the others to retreat. The Spaniard with smallpox was killed, and his body was taken. The warrior that took his body also got infected. Smallpox rapidly spread among the population. Aztecs were unknown to this disease, and their bodies had no resistance towards it. They also had no idea how to cure the horrid illness. During the spread, usually if one person in a home got smallpox, everyone in the home ended up passing away. There was not enough time to bury so many people, and more were dying everyday. Houses were simply demolished over with dead bodies. During the sage, the population of Aztecs was already very low, but there was also a food shortage. More and more people were also getting infected by the incurable smallpox disease. Twenty-five percent of the Aztecs were lost due to this specific illness alone. An emperor, and many other army leaders were killed by