Aztec Warfare And The Demise Of Tenochtitlan

Introduction: The Aztec civilisation was one of the most advanced civilisations of its generation (1325 AD- 1521 AD) led by Moctezuma II. The powerful society centred on Tenochtitlan and owned impactful weapons such as wooden spears and metal shields. When Hernan Cortes and the Spanish conquistadors entered the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan on 20 April 1519AD, for God, gold and glory it would only take two years before his small army had conquered and annihilated this powerful civilisation. Aztec warfare and tactics were a significant factor in their collapse of the civilisation because, their wooden weaponry was ineffective and their tactics of diplomacy were no match for the superior weaponry such as steel swords, iron armour and cannons made

Body Paragraph 1: Historical evidence highlights, Aztec’s wooden weapons proved ineffective against the lethal and destructive weapons of the Spanish that led to the demise of Tenochtitlan. Source 1, a credible primary source (illustration- p.362) produced by Darlington, R et al (2012) an author in 8 History Alive, (Darlington, 2012) explicitly shows, one tribe has superior and advanced weaponry such as iron armour, swords, cannons, whilst the other tribe has spears, feathers and metal shields. Additionally, Source 2, a credible secondary source written by Carrillo, K (2021) a professional and globally-recognised historian, explicitly states, “The conquistadors arrived in Mesoamerica with steel swords, muskets, cannons, pikes. The Aztecs fought the Spanish. But their weapons proved ineffective.” In conjunction, when comparing these sources, it can be implicitly inferred that the Aztecs fought the Spanish with wooden weapons; however, their weapons were ineffective and weak compared to the Spanish’s Likewise, it can also be implied that the dead figures in Source 1 depict how powerful and ruthful the Spanish weapons

Source one, a credible primary source illustrated by Lienzo de Tlaxcala (1519), Native American portrayal of events from the conquest of Mexico is found in a letter from Hernan Cortes to Spanish King, Charles V. This source explicitly shows that there are two tribes greeting each other in a remote area with one tribe who, has iron armour and horses whilst the other tribe has spears and metal helmets. Additionally, Source two, a credible secondary source written by a famous historian, explicitly states, “The tactics used by the Aztecs in the battle included diplomacy, espionage. and the capturing alive of prisoners for future sacrifice in religious ceremonies.” Therefore, after analysing Source one and two it is implied that the Spanish had effective tactics such as making an alliance with the Tlaxacalan’s so they had more allies to destroy Tenochtitlan with more superior weaponry and so they could gain information about the Aztec’s and their plans. Furthermore, the Aztecs used tactics such as diplomacy, espionage and sacrifice. Although, the Aztecs used espionage, it was futile because, they weren’t attacking the Spanish and were negotiating with the