Admin What factors helped the Spanish to defeat the Aztecs?
Spanish conquistadores commanded by Hernán Cortés allied with local tribes to conquer the Aztec capital city of Tenochtitlán. Cortés’s army besieged Tenochtitlán for 93 days, and a combination of superior weaponry and a devastating smallpox outbreak enabled the Spanish to conquer the city.
What caused the Inca downfall?
Disease. Disease was a very important factor that led to the collapse of the Inca Empire. Smallpox, which was a very dangerous disease back then, arrived way before the arrival of the Spanish. This disease killed over 200,000 Incas and weakened most of the population.
When did the Mayan Aztec and Inca empires decline?
The Decline of the Mayan, Aztec, and Inca Empires From 250 A.D. to the late 1500’s A.D., three civilizations, the Mayans, the Aztecs, and the Incas controlled Central and South America. Their decline happened for many different reasons.
How did the Spanish conquer the Incas?
Pizarro’s conquest of the Incas was also made possible by the use of gunpowder, a substance the Incas didn’t have at their disposal. Even less sophisticated weapons like steel-edged swords, pikes and crossbows, gave Spaniards the upper hand.
How did the Aztecs influence today’s Society?
Even though the Aztecs are remembered as a violent, warlike people, their peaceful contributions influence today’s society in such fields as education and pharmacology. The Aztec empire was one of the first to require mandatory education for its children.
How did Spanish weapons compare to the Aztecs and Incas?
Spanish weaponry was far superior to anything used by the Aztecs or Incas. Cortés and his men used over a dozen large portable guns, mainly for their shock value against the Aztecs. Pizarro’s conquest of the Incas was also made possible by the use of gunpowder, a substance the Incas didn’t have at their disposal.