How Did Disease Cause The Collapse Of The Aztec Civilization

How disease played a significant role to cause the collapse of the Aztec civilization?

How did disease play a significant role in the collapse of the Aztec Civilisation? This essay explains the fall of Aztec empire and how disease played a significant role. Aztec civilisation was a powerful society that existed in Tenochtitlan also known as Mexico from the 15th to the 16th century. The Spanish conquest of Americas started in 1519, when Hernan Cortes arrived in Tenochtitlan city with a small army of soldiers. Smallpox, measles, were introduced to the Aztec population by the Spanish conquerors, who had brought these diseases with them from Europe. The diseases that made the Aztec civilisation collapse were brought by the Spanish conquistadors when they arrived in Tenochtitlan. The disease played a significant role in the collapse of the Aztec civilisation killing many people as the society weakened.

When the Spanish conquistadors arrived in Mexico in 1519, they brought weapons, horses and other advanced technology but smallpox was their dangerous weapon. Fourth IOPCAM Table, The New York Times source states that the Aztecs had no immunity to smallpox, so the disease swept through the Aztec population, and killed an estimated 5 million people, or roughly 40% of the population. The second IOPCAM table, Encyclopedia Britannica states the impact of smallpox on Aztecs was devastating because of the little immunity Aztecs had, weakening the population leading to illness or death. The 3rd IOPCAM table, Wikipedia states ‘‘The Aztecs had extensive knowledge of medicinal herbs and plants.’ This quote means that Aztecs had great knowledge in treating illnesses, but with a new disease spreading Aztecs had no immunity. The evidence clearly shows that disease caused the collapse of the Aztec civilisation showing 40% of the population were killed by