The Importance Of The Mexica Empire

The Mexica’s tribute empire covered a massive region and was populated by numerous different indigenous groups. Many accounts have attempted to portray the conquering of this empire as a fete that was accomplished by five hundred men alone facing the vast population of indigenous people. However, this view of events inaccurately shows the indigenous people as united. In fact the indigenous people were far from unified. The Mexica Empire was a newly formed entity and many enmities remained between the recently subjugated groups and the Mexica. Cortes proved extremely capable of utilizing this enmity to gain the support of indigenous communities. This support came in numerous forms, such as providing the supplies that the Spanish needed to sustain themselves and launch their attack on the Mexica. This aid also came in the form of a massive amount of manpower, both for labor and as warriors. In this way the Spanish were neither as isolated nor as outnumbered as is popularly portrayed. The first crucial service that the indigenous allies served for the Spanish was as a source of suppies. The Spaniards under Cortes began their expedition without the support of the Governor Velasquez and entered Mexico without allies. This indicates they were operating without a supply chain and that they had to rely on what they brought with

This view clearly ignores the importance of the indigenous allies for the Spaniards. These allies played an important role in aiding and supplying the Spanish forces. They also provided the manpower needed to move these supplies, as well as the Spanish cannons, forward in their movement across Mexico. These allies also provided thousands of warriors who fought and died to support the Spanish victory. Examining these facts it is clear that the Spanish were neither as alone, nor as outnumbered as is popularly