Why Did The Fall Of The Aztecs

The most significant events caused by European interaction included Spain conquering the Americas, the Opium War, and the creation of Israel. In 1492, Christopher Columbus arrived in the Americas with the intent of finding a westward course for Asia. However, he came across the empires of the Aztecs and Incas. Columbus made three more trips across the Atlantic in the future. He went to the West Indies to gain more territories for Spain, and founded cities in the name of Isabella and Santa Maria. A famous conquistador, Hernan Cortés, caused the fall of the Aztecs and gained many parts of Mexico in Spain’s name. In 1519, Cortés led 3,000 men to Chochula and started the conquest of the Aztec empire. He massacred many unarmed soldiers

Initially Montezuma II, the leader, let the Spanish into their capitol peacefully in order to gain advantage and learn their weaknesses. Another reason that the Spanish were welcomed was the fact that the Spanish soldiers had crosses on their chest plates, leading the Aztec to believe that it was a sign from a god of theirs called Quetzalcoatl. Cortés eventually learned of Spanish soldiers on the coast of Mexico that were killed by Aztecs, so he aptly took Montezuma II hostage in his own palace. Soon, a Spanish lieutenant named Pedro de Alvarado started the Massacre in the Main Temple triggering the Aztecs to respond. On July 1, 1520, Montezuma II was killed. Most likely by Spanish soldiers. Cortés flees Tenochtitlan and returned with more men to capture the city. This started the end of the Aztecs in Mexico. Many other reasons contribute to the end of indigenous tribes in the Americas, including the introduction of diseases like smallpox, horses, and separations of the tribes. The Spanish were easily able to conquer the Aztecs despite being heavily outnumbered by having newer technology. The

The opium wars were two wars between China and Britain in the nineteenth century about the trade of opium and taxation of the Chinese by the British. Opium was used heavily by the Chinese during the seventeenth and eighteenth century recreationally. In 1799, the Chinese government outlawed opium trade. The Chinese people still used opium often, estimated at 5 million pounds in 1830. In 1839, large quantities of opium was found on British merchants who were going to market the drug to Chinese people. Britain did not feel that the ban on opium was legit and demanded that the opium be returned to its British owners. China refused and Britain shelled the area of Hong Kong. The war continued until 1842, when China accepted the Treaty of Nanking, which basically changed the framework of foreign trade. The trade also gave Hong Kong and five other cities British rule. In 1856, the second Opium War, or commonly referred to as the “Arrow War,” initiated due to the fact that Britain felt that there were treaty violations by the Chinese. The British ship Arrow was boarded by Chinese officials and its twelve crew members were arrested for the crime of opium smuggling. Britain raided inland to China with the help of France and led to a signing of the Treaty of Tientsin in 1858. Chinese officials refused to accept the treaty and again Britain invaded China and eventually made China sign the treaty in