ipl-logo

How Did Spanish Military Technology Affect The Destruction Of The Aztecs

477 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The impact of the spanish on the aztecs

On May 22, Hernan Cortes and his military forces stormed the great Aztec city, Tenochtitlan. Hernan Cotes did this for gold, God, and glory. The Aztecs were fighting a losing battle that only lasted 93 days before defeat, in total it is estimated that only 100 Spaniards lost their lives, but 100,000 Aztecs lost their lives. Therefore, Spanish military technology severely affected the fall of the Aztec civilisation because the Aztecs didn’t have advanced Military technology as the Spanish did like advanced ships, armour, weapons, and tactics.
The Aztecs stood no chance against Hernan Cotes and his army because of their advanced tactics and ships. According to Britannica, Hernan Cortes allied with local tribes and used ships to cut off the Aztecs water and food supply (2023). This shows that the Aztecs could not fight as well as the Spaniards because they were thirsty and hungry, so it did not take long until defeat. This source is a secondary source written by Myles Hudson, an editorial Intern at Britannica. This source was created to educate and inform people about the battle of Tenochtitlan, and why the Aztecs lost to the Spanish. …show more content…

ThoughtCo states that the Aztecs had weak cloth and leather armour that didn’t offer much protection, but the Spanish had durable iron armour and sharp iron swords (2021). Because of this, the Aztecs were only able to kill a few of the Spaniards, but the Spanish were able to slaughter many of the Aztecs in Tenochtitlan. An image in The Florentine Codex shows that the Aztecs fought with sharp obsidian edged clubs, this source also shows that the Aztecs were limited to obsidian (1577). The Florentine Codex is reliable primary source because it was created by a Spanish holy man who studied the Aztecs and wrote a book about the Aztecs. This source was created to preserve accurate history and knowledge of the Aztecs for future

Show More
Related
1181 Words | 5 Pages

When Cortes and his men first arrived on the island of Cozumel in 1519, they were unaware that a complex and advanced civilization was just beyond the shores of Mexico. Although, as stated, the Aztecs were a rather advanced civilization, when compared to the Spaniards that invaded their city, they were lacking in technology. Cortes used this to his advantage, stunning the natives with displays of cavalry and horses, as he

Read More
296 Words | 2 Pages

The author of Broken Spears tries to emphasize the fact that the it was not only the Spanish who played a role in the collapse of the Aztecs. One of the most prime reasons the Spanish were victorious was because they were worshiped and viewed as gods due to their presentation. With this to their advantage, the Spanish took leverage over the Aztecs. The Aztecs welcomed the Spanish with offerings and celebration, this gave the Spanish the idea that they had control over them and began to gather this power into ideas to take over their people. The Aztecs had a tremendous cultural difference from the Spanish when it came to their ritual ceremonies, they included a human sacrifice in their ritual and this repulsed the Spanish.

Read More
1426 Words | 6 Pages

Conquistador Hernan Cortes and his Spanish troops did not conquer the Aztec Empire on their own. They had allies, with the Tlaxcalans being among the most important. Learn how this alliance developed and how their support was crucial to Cortes' success. In 1519, as conquistador Hernan Cortes was making his way inland from the coast on his audacious conquest of the Mexica (Aztec) Empire, he had to pass through the lands of the fiercely independent Tlaxcalans, who were the mortal enemies of the Mexica.

Read More
1482 Words | 6 Pages

As a result he and his loyal Indian allies escaped from Tenochtitlan. This set back the conquest plans but not for long as Cortes was able to recoup a small force that eventually laid siege to the capital. Essay 1: Brett Ford Essay 1 History C209 Professor Beshwate 27 February 2016 The Aztec empire, before

Read More
245 Words | 1 Pages

The strong tactics of the Spanish Conquistadors, the mistakes of Montezuma, and disease lead to the defeat of the Aztec army of 200,000 men. The Spanish Conquistadors had the advantage over the Aztecs, using the allies they had and the technology they used in battle. Montezuma, the ruler of Tenochtitlan made a mistake when the Spanish Conquistadors arrived, by thinking they were Gods.. The conquistadors also brought over diseases, which whipped out most of the Aztec army leading to a slight setback for the Aztecs. The Aztecs then, had no chance against the Spanish.

Read More
1094 Words | 5 Pages

The most obvious is the shier size and composition difference. The Aztec force stood 300,000 warriors versus 700 Spanish infantrymen, 86 cavalrymen, and 118 crossbowmen were comprised of volunteers and adventurers, and over 50,000 Native Americans allied forces (Davis, 1999, p. xx). Aztec obsidian clubs and bows and arrows proved no match for the emerging technology armored infantrymen and cavalry of the Europeans.

Read More
821 Words | 4 Pages

The Aztecs were fascinated by the accuracy of the muskets and the destructive power of the cannons. The Spanish also introduced them to horses, an animal the Aztecs had never encountered before, and witnessed the Spaniards' skills, which seemed almost supernatural to them. Additionally, the Aztecs were amazed at the advanced shipbuilding techniques used by the Spanish, allowing them to navigate the oceans and reach distant lands. The arrival of the Spanish and their advanced technology left a lasting impression on the Aztecs, ultimately playing a significant role in the conquest of their

Read More
1367 Words | 6 Pages

Introduction: The Aztec civilization was one of the most significant and advanced civilizations in world history. In 1325 AD, the Aztec civilization was created and ruled by Montezuma II. However, Heran Cortes along with his army of 500 Spanish conquistadors landed on the coast and made their way into Tenochtitlan in 1519 AD. They arrived at Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital which at the time was ruled by Montezuma II and were committed to cause the Aztec civilization to collapse. But it only took two years before Cortes and his small army conquered and destroyed the mighty civilization.

Read More
153 Words | 1 Pages

Even with this setback, the Spanish still obliterated the Aztecs almost completely. As for the rest of the empire, according to livescience.com, 75% of the remaining Aztec empire were killed by diseases like smallpox.

Read More
573 Words | 3 Pages

The author gives insight on how many ways the Spaniards used their power to assist in the downfall of the Aztecs. The reason why the Spaniards became victorious, was because the Spaniards were looked upon as if they were gods because of their outer appearance. The Aztecs broke bread and welcomed the Spaniards with gifts and parties. The Aztecs triggered their relationship with the Spaniards by holding a ritual for the arrival of the god which included a human sacrifice. The Spaniards didn’t agree with the rituals and began to despise the Aztecs.

Read More
475 Words | 2 Pages

Upon the arrival of the Spanish empire who had the intent of conquering the Aztecs many of the groups who disliked the Aztecs joined the Spanish’s army. Once the army reached Tenochtitlan the entire force amassed only 1% Spanish people with the rest being Allie’s which were acquired. This proves that the Aztec conflict with neighboring groups was one of the biggest contributing factors to the downfall of the Aztec empire.

Read More
874 Words | 4 Pages

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.

Read More
501 Words | 3 Pages

In my Pre-Columbian Civilization Research, I will be discussing the Aztec Empire from 1300-1521. As indicated on the map, they were located in the Southern part of Mexico. The state capital was Tenochtitlan, and there were two other large cities: Texcoco and Tlacopan. The Aztec were known for their agriculture, military, commercial markets, religion, and the fall of the Aztec Civilization.

Read More
1135 Words | 5 Pages

The Spanish retreated from Tenochtitlan, by fighting their way out, away from the angry mobs. The Spaniards took shelter with the Tlaxacan where they devised a plan to finally to conquer the Aztecs once and for all. The Spaniards, Tlaxacan, and other allied tribes all returned to Tenochtitlan with reinforcements and a siege. After eighty days of bloody battles Cuauhtémoc surrendered to the Spaniards, and that was the end of the Aztec

Read More
975 Words | 4 Pages

Using war equipment that the Aztec had never seen before and different battle techniques, Cortes and his men were able to quickly and effectively conquer Tenochtitlan. During battle against the Aztecs, animals from Spain that served in many battles called horses (about twelve), as well as swords and crossbows (a much more advanced version of the Aztec war club and spear-thrower) were labelled as advanced technology as they were quicker, deadlier, and consequently more efficient. These many advantages against the Aztecs and their traditional weapons; and therefore the Spaniards won many battles alongside their allies, and succeeded greatly by using guns that were far more powerful than the Aztecs' weapons. Unfair as it is, this gave the Spanish explorer a supremacy in conquering one of the most elaborate European cities at the time. “The Aztecs were unable to rebel against the Spaniards because most of them were sick or dead from smallpox.

Read More

More about How Did Spanish Military Technology Affect The Destruction Of The Aztecs

Related Topics

Open Document