How Did The Aztecs Defeat

To a certain extent, the conflict and defeat of the Aztecs were, unfortunately, unavoidable. For this reason, the Spanish had a greater chance of overcoming the numbers of the Aztec soldiers with their alliance with the indigenous neighbouring states. Even if Cortes was defeated, and brought shame to the king, he would send other conquistadors until Mexico was claimed, this was another valuable reason why the Aztecs would be eventually defeated. Not to forget the fact that the Spanish had a different sense of combat when it came to military strategizing and techniques. With the defeat of the Aztecs, this was a beginning to a whole new dimension in European history.

Alliance with other indigenous groups was one of the main factors that helped

Cortes overcome the Aztec army that led to a successful defeat. After two weeks of fierce battling with the Tlaxcalans, who were the people of an independent state neighbouring Tenochtitlan, the leaders of the group saw this as a the perfect opportunity to create an incorruptible alliance. Cortes saw this as a useful advantage, because in the end, the Spanish had a larger force to conquer the Aztecs. Not only that there were a vast number of allies, but deep hatred against the Aztecs made the warriors’ performance in battle more effectively. The reason that the Tlaxcalans hated the Aztecs so much was because of a tax system called tribute. It was a system of which conquered states were forced to pay a tax in the form of goods and labor. Since Tlaxcala was conquered by the Aztecs, they would have to give what they had every once in awhile. This included taking a large number of Tlaxcalans away from their families so the Aztecs would be able to bring back sacrifices to please their gods. With this alliance, the numbers of warriors gradually grew and overcame the Aztecs.

If failed to conquer Tenochtitlan the first time, Spain would eventually send more conquistadors to return. For this reason, Spain was a country that did not give up easily until they achieved their goal. In this case, the Aztecs would still be able to carry their religious and dietary aberrations for a while longer, but would eventually be conquered by a more successful conquistador after Cortes’ failure. With this ability to sponsor more expeditions back to Mexico, the Aztecs would possibly be able to hold back, at least, two more waves of Spanish soldiers before accepting defeat. Theoretically, if the Aztecs were able to survive a century after Cortes’ attempt, Mexico would have been discovered already and there would have been a higher chance of other countries finding out about the wealth that the Aztecs had and lived on. Since other countries were greedy and would do anything to improve their economy, Tenochtitlan may turn into a bloody war zone and the city would be in more damage than it already was when Cortes conquered the Aztecs in 1521. The king’s thirst for gold and glory will drive Spain to conquer anything imaginable.

With the techniques and strategies used by the conquistadors, the Spanish overpowered the Aztecs using multiple methods.

One of the methods included having powerful weapons as a technological advantage, such as muskets because this was a special device common in Europe, but unknown in Mexico. When the Aztecs heard firearms, they thought it was thunder and lightning sent down to Earth from the gods because they were angry. One way that the Spanish used their weapons was by doing what was called a volley line and shooting at their enemy simultaneously. This created the maximum effect needed because every time the Aztecs recklessly approached them, they would blast hundreds of musket pellets at the warriors. Even though the reload time was not efficient, they were able to make another volley fire line to give the soldiers that just fired, a chance to reload and refill their ammo. An animal that the Aztecs would never expect for the Spanish to bring in battle were horses. The Spanish soldiers that were on horseback amazed the Aztec warriors and the fact that they could not compete against the Spanish because of their multitasking skills of being able to control a horse’s reins with one hand while swinging a sword in the other. With the size, power and speed of these animals, the Aztecs were never able to have a classic battle on

feet.