The Aztec City Acquisition

190 Words1 Pages
The first European power to set-up permanent settlements in America were the Spanish. The first Spanish permanent base was set up by Nicolas de Ovando, who in 1502 arrived with 2,500 men. Then in 1519 a man named Hernan Cortes conquered the Aztec city using superior military technology and a disease called smallpox. The Aztec City takeover was the key to the Spanish success because they were warriors who were basically superior to their surrounding neighbors. The Aztecs were able to force the barbarian view on others, of course this was before the smallpox epidemic (Foner, 2012, pp.20-21)
At this time Spain and Portugal were being enforced with a powerful royal government and religious orthodoxy by exploiting the Muslims and Jews. They were