How Did The Fall Of The Aztec Empire

The European conquest of the Americas is the best hidden and most easily overlooked genocide in human history. Resulting in the massacre of ninety five percent of the indigenous population; the loss of tens of millions of people, this annihilation of human life often falls under our radar. The Aztec empire was one of the first of the great American empires to fall. Though it was one of the most populated and advanced civilizations in the new world, the Europeans declared victory in 1521 after only two years of fighting. Superior weapons and war tactics, alliances with rebelling indigenous people and the introduction of new and deadly diseases were all aspects of the European conquest of the Americas that led to the fall of the Aztec empire.

When the Spanish arrived in 1519, Cortes took complete advantage of this. After defeating the Tlaxcalan people, he then forged an alliance with them to increase his small numbers. Cortes’ forces continued to grow in this fashion as many indigenous people joined to rebel against the authority who controlled them. After suffering a terrible defeat at the hands of the Aztecs, Cortes retreated to rally more forces. He was soon joined by more Spanish soldiers from Cuba and he continued to enlist the native people. His army grew much larger and it consisted of ten times more natives than Spaniards. “He enlarged his army, numbering around 1,000 Spaniards and 10,000 Tlaxcalans and other Indian allies”. These larger numbers combined with the smallpox epidemic that weaken the Aztecs, allowed the Spaniards and the rebelling Native Americans to lay siege to Tenochtitlan and eventually emerge victorious. “Tlaxcalans took revenge on an old enemy [the Aztecs] by massacring thousands of city residents”. With the help of the native people, the larger Aztec empire fell to the smaller Spanish

Primary, their fighting technology was much more advanced. “[The spaniard were] armed with deadly muskets, cannon, steel swords and crossbows”. One account of a Native American portrays their fear and confusion of a weapon that they learn to call a cannon. “A thing like a ball of stones comes out of its entrails: incomes out shooting parks and raining fire….If the it is aimed against a mountain, the mountain splits and cracks open”. The Aztecs inferior technology and lack of understanding of the Spaniards’ weapons was a major disadvantage in combat. The spaniards were also better protected than the natives. As recounted by a Native American, “[t]heir trappings and arms are all made of iron. They dress in iron and wear iron casques on their heads.” The Spanish also have an invaluable advantage in movement speed. Horses, which are new to the new world, allow the Spaniards to move fast and attack from an elevated point. The Spaniards were much more strategic. The used military maneuvers and had battle plans which confused and frightened the Aztecs. Furthermore, the Aztec forces were disorganized at this time. They relied on a hierarchal system for order and without their leader Moctezuma, they were sitting ducks in battle. Additionally, it was Aztec custom to aim to capture it battle rather than kill. This made them very vulnerable to the Spanish soldiers who were fine with slaughtering the Aztec people.