0 votes 0 votes Log in to add a comment Answer 5.0 /5 0. straveteg. How did the Social Systems of the Aztec Reflect their Worldview. An alliance was forged bewteen Hernan Cortes and these disaffected Chieftains who agreed to assist the Spanish in their march on Tenochtitlan. The Aztecs … The mighty Aztec and Inca Empires fell apart rapidly once the Spanish arrived. So, was there anything “bad” that the Aztecs ever did… Although Montezuma II did not trust Cortés, he also was worried that Cortés was the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl. [3], However, soon, while Cortés was away, Spanish soldiers attacked and killed many Aztecs during a festival. [4], For weapons, Aztec warriors had a few choices:[4], None of these weapons could compare to the conquistadors' guns and steel swords. Aaaaand their weaponry was unfamiliar to the … Later, when he saw how much worse African slaves were treated, las Casas changed his mind about this. In what ways did factors such as technology and disease contribute to the dominance of the Spanish over the Aztec civilization?-advanced technology = better results -immunity to sickness helped Spanish. [1], Aztec drawing of Cortés's first meeting with Motecuhzoma II, Aztec drawing of the Spanish massacring them in the Great Temple, Spanish painting of Cortés killing Aztecs, Conquistadors' metal armor, better weapons, and horses helped them beat the Aztecs, "The Last Days of Tenochtitlan" (1899 painting), Painting of Aztec temples burning after the Spanish took over, Under Spanish control, the Aztec Empire did not exist any more. Over time, around 80 percent of the people living in the Valley of Mexico died from these diseases. The Spanish recruited the enemies of the Aztecs and Incas to help break the two kingdoms. Sources disagree here whether Moctezuma died from the wounds caused by the rocks or if he was strangled by the Conquistadors because he was no longer of any use to them. But 100 years later, there were just 1 million left. What happened to the Spanish captured by the Aztecs? About this quiz: All the questions on this quiz are based on information that can be found on the page at Aztec Empire - Spanish Conquest. Most Aztecs deaths were under the Tenochtitlan besiege; the exit roads of their city islands were obstructed. The horses, cannons and iron weaponry brought over on their huge ships from Cuba commanded respect and fear. Under his rule, the Aztec Empire had reached its greatest heights with its borders reaching their greatest extent since the inception of the Empire. Those errors still persist today. Battle of Tenochtitlan (May 22–August 13, 1521), military engagement between the Aztecs and a coalition of Spanish and indigenous combatants commanded by Hernan Cortes. The initially friendly relationships between the Aztecs and the Spaniards soon soured as the Spaniards now inside Tenochtitlan as Moctezuma’s guests, took the Emperor Moctezuma hostage and also killed many local Nobles. The Aztecs on the other hand were excellent fighters against other tribes, but their tactics were inefficient and did not improve during the fighting with the Spanish. In the case of the Spaniards, this was the king, or more specifically, King Ferdinand of Aragon and Queen Isabel of Castile; these were hereditary positions. The treated their subjects like animals and they only wanted their subjects to do two things: 1) pay tribute in kind and 2) sacrificial victims, usually very young virgins. The Spanish invaded the Aztecs Empire. They came into power in 1325 and ruled until 1521. They ruled parts of southern Mexico, as well as some other adjacent areas in Central America. Hernan Cortes, one of the Spanish explorers, undertook an expedition to the Mexican Coast in 1519. Similarly, what did the Aztecs like to do? In the case of the Aztecs, the emperor was the supreme leader and was worshiped as a god. Similarly, in two years, Cortés, with fewer than 1,000 Spaniards, utterly destroyed the Aztec Empire. The Spanish destroyed Tenochtitlan. The Aztec Empire had ended.[3]. Back to History for Kids This information, however, combined with archaeological data, gives a fairly detailed picture of Aztec culture at the time of the Spanish conquest. How did they do it? How Did the Aztec and Spanish Ways of Life Reflect Their Worldviews? The Council of the Indies was constituted in 1524 and the first Audiencia in 1527. The superior weapons and adequate resources that the Spanish army had can also be regarded as one of the factors, which contributed to the defeat of the Aztecs. The invasion ended in two years, on 13 August 1521, with the capture of the capital of the Aztec Empire. Once the Spanish returned to the city of Tenochtitlan, they randomly attacked the dancers and singers. They started a Spanish colony that they named New Spain. This happened for a few reasons:[1], After taking over the Aztec Empire, the Spanish conquistadors moved on to take over other parts of Mesoamerica. The Spanish had a positive effect on Aztec civilization because they helped modernize the society. To make things worse for the Aztecs, the City was by now suffering from extreme starvation and the people were forced to drink the salty lake water which weakened the population even further, allowing Cortes to enter the City in a series of bitterly contested surges until the Aztec City was finally subdued in August 1512. How did the Aztecs die? At first, Montezuma II, the Aztecs' ruler, invited the Spanish into Tenochtitlan, and things were friendly. When the Spanish arrived, normally they would have been captured and sacrificed immediately. Researchers say evidence shows Acolhuas, allies of a major Aztec city known to have captured a Spanish convoy in 1520, killed and cannibalised their captives. What happened to Tenochtitlan? The Spaniards’ use of animals and technology made them no less barbaric than the Aztecs, just dramatically different. Columbus had landed at San Salvador and explored the West Indies in 1492, when Cortés was a young boy. At first, the reports of strange encounters on the Coast with pale skinned men did not bother Moctuzema because the Aztec Empire was already advanced in Trade with many foreigners already present and conducting trade at the great market of Tlatelolco. For example, in one battle fought at the Inca capital of Cuzco, 190 Spaniards defeated an army of 40,000 Inca warriors with a loss of only one man. The whole process could have taken longer were it not for three separate epidemics that took a heavy toll on the Native Americans, killing almost 75% of the population and … As Leonardo pointed out to us, Cortés sent to Charles V a quinto real (20%) of what the Spaniards had actually received. There could hardly be a clearer statement of returning the sovereignty to the original king. These Aztecs put the number of sacrificial victims at the time of the temple’s dedication at … This event is called the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire. Home » Ancient Civilizations » Ancient Mesoamerica » Spanish Conquest Of The Aztec Empire. However, workers were badly abused, and many died. I am doing a paper report on the Spanish Conquer. Why did the Spanish want to conquer the Aztecs? The Spanish made their way inland, ignoring pleas and threats from Montezuma to go away. different than that, it replaced right into a organic backstab/deceive the Aztec king by using the Spanish conquistador that enabled him to defeat the Aztecs. From there they proceeded with the process of conquest and incorporation of Mesoamerican peoples into the Spanish Empire. At age 14, Cortés was sent to study law at the University of Salamanca, but he was restless and unhappy. The Aztec Empire had now been brought to a brutal end, and the outcome of the first great meeting between the Old and New worlds would forever alter the course of History. By 1519, the Empire had other problems that made it easier for Spain to take it over. It is uncertain how Montezuma died. Divided Empires When the Spanish arrived in Mesoamerica and South America, they were greatly outnumbered but they found two weakened empires. After Montezuma II was killed the Aztecs elected Cuauhtemoc as their new king. He became fascinated with tales of Christopher Columbus' New World explorations. Superior weaponry and a devastating smallpox outbreak enabled the Spanish to … Aztecs … Destroyed it. Nobody did what Montezuma II said. Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortés and his men landed on the Mexican coast on April of 1519. The omens could have led the Aztecs to believe that the Spanish leader (Cortez) was the god Quetzalcoatl in the form of a white skinned, bearded man; and the Spanish Army are those the kind saw in the mirror as they rode horses. Ancient Aztec temple … When the Spanish conquistadors first fired their weapons, the blast and smoke shocked and amazed the Aztec people. Mendoza was entirely loyal to the Spanish crown, unlike the conqueror of Mexico Hernán Cortés, who had demonstrated that he was independent-minded and defied official orders when he threw off the authority of Governor Velázquez in Cuba. He was the only son of noble, though not wealthy, parents. Chapter 8. Over the next few days Moctezuma’s diplomats were dispatched bearing Golden gifts for Cortes and the Conquistadors, constructing sleeping quarters and providing servants. Columbus had set sail hoping to … The Aztec temple was deliberately built in a blend of styles. Spanish … The Spanish Conquest of the Aztecs In 1492 the Spaniards discovered the new world. The Spanish Conquistadors were completely outnumbered and in a foreign land yet they easily defeated these vast and powerful empires. This woman is doing a fire dance in Aztec clothing, A modern Aztec drumming in traditional Aztec clothing, Aztecs celebrate a festival in Mexico City in traditional clothing, From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (, CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (, https://simple.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Spanish_conquest_of_the_Aztec_Empire&oldid=7209626, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License, The Aztec government was making the states they took over – and regular people in Tenochtitlan – pay more and more money in, When Cortés and his conquistadors came to Tenochtitlan, they brought, Being forced to work too hard with too little food, which caused, Abuse from the people who were forcing them to work. By 1680, 94% of the Aztec population had died. More than 3 million Aztecs died from smallpox, and with such a severely weakened population, it was easy for the Spanish to take Tenochtitlán. 2. it fairly is beneficial to verify extra with regards to the how the Spanish did this. Specifically, Hassig shows that the Aztec strategy was mainly one of demonstrating superior military power in … The ancient prophecy has been fulfilled and the returning lord is invited to occupy his throne and visit the palace. The siege was characterised by a series of brutal and chaotic fights along the waterways and within the City precincts of Tenochtitlan as the Spaniards sought to establish control over the City whilst the Aztecs feverishly defended it. The Aztecs were severely weakened by diseases that the Spanish brought such as smallpox, influenza, and malaria. Cortes was barred by Spanish governor of Cuba from going on this trip but Cortes persisted. In the 15th century, there were 25 million people living in the Aztec Empire. He reached the Yucatan Peninsula and from there, marched towards the Aztec lands. That's how the Aztecs did things. In 1535, Charles V the Holy Roman Emperor (who was as the King of Spain known as Charles I), named the Spanish nobleman Don Antonio de Mendoza the first Viceroy of New Spain. In 1521, Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes conquered the Aztecs and Mexico became a Spanish colony. On the 1st of July 1520, the Spaniards attempted to flee the City at night but they were spotted and attacked by a massive Aztec force on Canoes along the waterway out of Tenochtitlan. The rich gifts, meant to buy off the Spanish and make them go away, had the opposite effect: they wanted to see the riches of the Aztecs for themselves. Does anybody know the two other reasons? There were many different reasons why the Spanish were able to take over the Aztec Empire. Some of them helped the Spanish conquistadors take over the Empire. When the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés and his men arrived in the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlán in 1521, they described witnessing a grisly ceremony. Together, they fought the other Aztecs and tried to overthrow their Aztec emperor, Moctezuma. Cortés helped old enemies of the Aztecs defeat them in one of the most important events in the Spanish colonization of the Americas. Explanation: Click to let others know, how helpful is it 0. The Spanish conquest was devastating to the Aztec people. It greatly reduced the number of the Aztec population. Montezuma II sent Cortés gifts of gold and chocolate to welcome the Spanish. The name "Ne… In response, the Spanish attempted to use Moctezuma to calm the rebellion, but even Moctezuma was stoned by his own people. Cortés eventually had him executed. What happened to Montezuma? In all, some 240,000 people were believed to have died in the city’s conquest, which effectively ended the Aztec civilization. Aztecs under attack: Hernán Cortés, with 200 Spaniards and 5,000 Indians defeats a larger Aztec force in 1520. 0.0. Cortés was born in 1485 in Medellín, Spain. [1], In 1515, two of the states in the Aztec Empire rebelled. Even at the time, physicians said the symptoms did not match those of better-known diseases such as measles and malaria. As much as I rooted for the Aztecs, I was placed on the Spanish side. How did the Spaniards finally take over? On his arrival, Hernan Cortes was accompanied by a force of 530 Armed Europeans and a few hundred Cuban natives and African slaves. The smallpox weakened the Aztec cities around Tenochtitlan which soon fell to the Spanish and made it possible for the Spaniards to lay siege to Tenochtitlan. Spanish And Aztecs Battle. This disease killed many Aztecs, Aztecs being forced to work under the Encomienda system, Aztec culture continues today. The Aztecs … However, because so many people had died of smallpox, there were also not enough people left to fight against the conquistadors when they did come. Both the Spanish Empire and the Aztec Empire were ruled by a strong central figure. The Aztec Empire was the last great civilization prior to the arrival of the Spanish. Aztec nobility are made up of rich and wealthy families of noble blood. The Spanish also allied with the Aztec's enemies. Other "Aztecs" would be far more likely to refer to themselves by city-state. [2], Then, in April 1519, Spanish conquistadors, led by Cortés, arrived on the coast of Mexico. The written language of the Maya was made up of about 800 glyphs, or symbols. How did the Aztec treat the Spanish when they first arrived? [3], Ten months later, Cortés came back to Tenochtitlan with more Spanish soldiers but mostly Tlaxcaltecas and other indigenous enemies of the Aztecs. The fall of the Aztec City of Tenochtitlan to the Spanish led by Conquistador Hernan Cortes marked the end of an era as the Old and New Worlds collided with catastrophic results for the New World which would be decimated by War, famine and disease.. On his arrival, Hernan Cortes was accompanied by a force of 530 Armed Europeans and a few hundred Cuban natives and African slaves. The land was ruled by Aztec King Moctezuma who had been the Aztec Emperor since 1502. However, this time, the Tlaxcala and Huexotzingo rebels beat the Aztec military. The aztecs were a large militarystic empire practicing human sacrifice and other practices the Spaniards considered evil. The Aztec Empire was the last great civilization prior to the arrival of the Spanish. [8][9] They made it easier to change from Aztec rule to Spanish rule by letting many Aztec nobles become Spanish nobles. We know the Spanish conquistadors had something to do with their demise, but it wasn't just those nasty European diseases that led to their ultimate downfall. First, their weapons and armor were better than the Aztecs'. 1521. In what year did the Aztec Empire come to an end? When Cortés got back, he got Montezuma II to tell the Aztecs to stop fighting the conquistadors. The Aztecs were famous for their agriculture, cultivating all available land, introducing irrigation, draining swamps, and creating artificial islands in the lakes. This was nothing new for the Aztecs. [6] Aztec legends said that Quetzalcoatl would return as a man, and Cortés had arrived on Quetzalcoatl's birthday. Because the Aztecs were ruthless and very cruel. So, I am wondering why the Spanish wanted to conquer the Aztecs. There was 15 Spanish men that were captured by the Aztecs and were sacrificed the first time. In August they marched to Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec Empire. Malintzin became Cortés’s mistress, learned Spanish, and served as Cortés’s interpreter and advisor. As a result, the City of Tenochtitlan erupted in open rebellion and the Spanish found themselves trapped in the now hostile City with their sleeping quarters coming under attack. welcomed them. By this time, though, the Aztecs had made Montezuma II's brother, Cuauthemoc, the king. After 91 days, without any food, and with disease throughout the city, Cuauhtemoc finally surrendered to the Spanish on August 13, 1521. The remaining Aztecs were assimilated into the Spanish empire and their pure-blooded and mestizo descendants live on in Mexico and Central America today. As well, the metal armor of the Spanish fascinated the Aztec because they did not have any similar form of protection. Between 1519 and 1521, Spanish conquistadors, led by Hernán Cortés, overthrew the Aztec Empire. After the fall of Tenochtitlan on 13 August 1521 and the capture of the emperor Cuauhtémoc, the Spanish founded Mexico City on the ruins of Tenochtitlan. What happened to the Aztecs? Maybe you'd get to learn to read. Some Aztecs joined forces with the Spanish. "[7], Some historians say that the Spanish conquistadors were not the only reason the Aztec Empire fell apart. This, however, was not intentional. Because of this, a Spanish bishop named Bartolomé de las Casas suggested using African slaves to work in New Spain instead. The end for the Aztec Empire came when the governor of Cuba sent an army under Hernan Cortes (1485-1547) to … This includes the dominant group that lived in Tenochtitlan, who called themselves the Mexica. [2] Even when the Spanish made Montezuma II a prisoner, the Aztecs stayed friendly. In 1519, Hernan Cortes and his greedy band of some 600 conquistadors began their audacious assault on the Mexica (Aztec) Empire.By 1521 the Mexica capital city of Tenochtitlan was in ashes, Emperor Montezuma was dead and the Spanish were firmly in control of what they took to calling "New Spain." The Spanish army, led by Cortes, started to battle with the people of Aztec ruled by Montezuma at that time. What did the Spanish bring to the Americas that weakened or killed thousands of Aztecs? [4] Their horses and war dogs gave them even more of an advantage against the Aztecs. Just as the Spanish were overwhelmed by the fearsome Aztec warriors, they too created a huge impact. Along the way, Cortes and his men collected thousands of pounds of gold, silver, jewels … Hernan Cortes was a Spanish explorer who conquered the Aztecs and named Mexico City. Horses; because they had never seen a horse. It was decided to treat the strange new Visitors as the returned God Viracocha until Moctezuma could be sure about their intentions. Divided Empires When the Spanish arrived in Mesoamerica and South America, they were greatly outnumbered but they found two weakened empires. By 1680, 94% of the Aztec … They kept fighting the conquistadors, and they killed two out of every three Spanish soldiers. The Spanish conquest was devastating to the Aztec people.By 1680, 94% of the Aztec population … The first Europeans that came into contact with the Aztecs were the Spanish in 1519. The Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire is not only one of the most significant events in the early exploration and conquest of the Americas, but also one of the most significant events in world history. Photograph: Unknown/ Archivo Iconografico, S.A./CORBIS The Aztec Empire was a civilization located in western South America (The Andes) And the Spanish invaded the Aztecs and annexed them. Many received an Encomienda, a village full of Aztecs who were forced to work for them. Listen To Article The fall of the Aztec City of Tenochtitlan to the Spanish led by Conquistador Hernan Cortes marked the end of an era as the Old and New Worlds collided with catastrophic results for the New World which would be decimated by War, famine and disease. you ought to definitely have googled this question. They developed a form of hieroglyphic writing, a complex calendar system, and … Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site. 4. Cortes’s army besieged Tenochtitlan for 93 days. In amongst the gold items was a Spanish helmet that the Aztecs had - at Cortés’s request - filled with gold dust. What did the Spanish do to much of the Aztec art and architecture? I know for sure that one of the reasons was for gold and silver, now I need two more. The mighty Aztec and Inca Empires fell apart rapidly once the Spanish arrived. Nahua society lived by a myriad of social and ethical rules just like the sixteenth century Spanish did. For instance, some of us might still think of the Aztecs as bloodthirsty conquerors. They had a . With the help of the Aztecs’ native rivals, Cortes mounted an offensive against Tenochtitlan, finally defeating Cuauhtemoc’s resistance on August 13, 1521. But, in the 1500s, when the Spanish conquistador, Hernan Cortes, entered Aztec territory with a small band of his men, the Aztec misunderstood why they were there. Although the Spaniards eventually managed to cross to the mainland, they had lost a significant number of men and Gold in the worst defeat suffered by Cortes. [5], As early as 1528, reports have said that Montezuma II thought Hernán Cortés was the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl. Between 1519 and 1521, Spanish conquistadors, led by Hernán Cortés, overthrew the Aztec Empire. Some Aztec institutions, such as the military orders, were immediately abolished by the Spaniards; and the sources, therefore, give only the barest outline of their organization. It turned to the Aztecs when it wanted to have some design features in the Aztec palace. Spanish weaponry and tactics played a role, but most of the destruction was wrought by epidemics of European diseases. The written language of the Maya was made up of about 800 glyphs, or symbols. Aztec society was highly structured, based on agriculture and trade, and guided by a religion that was part of every aspect of life. This was not much different from what many serfs had done during the Aztec Empire. These priests and friars spoke to old Aztecs to learn their history. Hmmm, well the Spanish unintentionally brought European diseases with them and it spread like wildfire! In 1521, Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes conquered the Aztecs and Mexico became a Spanish colony. The Spanish had metal armor and shields. She played a key role in Cortés’s victory over the Aztecs and also bore him a son, Martín, the first famous Mexican mestizo (although he couldn’t have actually been the first mestizo born in the Americas). Meanwhile, Cortés found out that Moctezuma had huge quantities of stored Gold, and began discussions with other disgruntled local vassal Chiefs unhappily paying Tribute to Moctezuma. The nobles are the ones that controlled the society. The Aztec regrouped under a new Emperor but they could not foresee the deadly Biological disaster that would seen wreak havoc throughout the Kingdom as Smallpox which had been brought by one of the Spaniards spread, effectively decimating 40% of Tenochtitlan’s population within a year. The Spanish conquest of Yucatán took almost 170 years. by Cortes and his military; present day Mexico City. The nobles power and wealth relied on control of land, labor and tribute. The Aztecs: The Aztecs were one of the most powerful and advanced pre-Columbian civilizations. The first emissaries from the Aztecs arrived, bearing gifts and seeking information about these interlopers. Hernán Cortés and the other Spanish conquistadors attacked the Aztecs to gain territory, gold and an upper hand in the Valley of Mexico.... See full answer below. After Christopher Columbus tried to reach Asia in 1492 by sailing west of Africa, the Old World’s view of the planet changed. So I’m forced to find bad things about the Aztecs in order to support my case. How did they do it? Spanish missionaries sent to convert the Aztecs to Christianity learned the Nahuatl language spoken by the Aztecs. For the Aztecs, this surrender to the Spanish meant the permanent loss of their political and cultural society. For webquest or practice, print a copy of this quiz at the Aztec Empire - Spanish Conquest webquest print page. For example:[1][2][4], Because of these things, many people in the Aztec Empire were unhappy. [1], Aztec drawing of smallpox victims. Thanks to the Spanish conquistadors who overtook the city in 1521, led by Hernán Cortés, misinformation about Tenochtitlan and its inhabitants has been around for 500 years. So, did some Native Americans prefer Spanish rulers to the Aztecs? The Spanish started invading the Aztec Empire in February 1519. Aztec warriors had only cotton armour and shields made of wood or reeds to protect them. What did the government of Porfirio Diaz do? The Spanish conquest was devastating to the Aztec people. I had a paper with the answers, but my teacher collected it. They are well bred and respected by the rest of the society. The Spanish later referred to this as the "Noche Triste" or " Night of Sorrows . That night, the Spanish were spotted as they tried to flee the city: the enraged Mexica warriors attacked, slaughtering hundreds of Spaniards on the Tacuba causeway out of the city. They ran the government, commanded the army, owned the land, slaves and servants. The fall of the Aztec City of Tenochtitlan to the Spanish led by Conquistador Hernan Cortes marked the end of an era as the Old and New Worlds collided with catastrophic results for the New World which would be decimated by War, famine and disease. They started a siege of Tenochtitlan, so that no food or supplies could get in. "The king's and Cortes' gold was lost, and those soldiers who carried very much loot either dropped it or were slaughtered because they … One Minute History - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQNIJBgSm5lg0mGTGn19EIQ This page was last changed on 11 December 2020, at 14:18. At first, the Tlaxcalans fought the conquistadors viciously, but after repeated defeats, they decided to make peace with the Spanish … Between 1519 and 1521, Spanish conquistadors, led by Hernán Cortés, overthrew the Aztec Empire.This event is called the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire.Cortés helped old enemies of the Aztecs defeat them in one of the most important events in the Spanish colonization of the Americas.. For 300 years Spain ruled the land until the early 1800s. One of their most important cultural customs was the worship of their ancestors. Right now at school, I’m doing a Law and Order themed project of the Aztecs vs the Spanish. During the same 160 years – from 1520 to 1680 – between 85% and 95% of Mesoamerica's native population died. The Spanish tried to change the Aztecs into Catholics and make them act like Spanish people. What animal did the Spanish have that the Aztecs feared and why? Writers in the 18th century, long after the Spanish conquest, used that word to describe what was really a vast group of people. Within just two years, Aztec ruler Montezuma was dead, the capital city of Tenochtitlan was captured and Cortés had claimed the Aztec empire for Spain. The result was an Aztec temple, sort of, but in Beaux-Arts style, emphasizing Roman and Greek styles, Italian Renaissance and Baroque periods, too. [10], The conquistadors rewarded people who had helped them defeat the Aztecs.