What 4 factors contributed to the Spanish conquest over the Aztec?

Answer 1

The demise of the Aztecs by the Spanish was because of the tribal rivalry from other tribes against the Aztecs, the Spanish military technology, Spanish reinforcements, and the legend of the returning Quetzalcoatl and the way Amerindians react to each other. The Spanish were able to bolster a large army of Native warriors because of the help of Dona Marina who was a Native who helped Cortez influence other tribes to rise up against the Aztecs. These warriors made up the bulk of the army outnumbering the Spanish because the Spanish were in the hundreds of numbers while the Natives were in the thousands. Furthermore, the technology of the Spanish was able to help the small number survive warfare with the Aztecs. Their steel weapons and armor were almost impenetrable giving them a small edge in combat; but their main help was the horse as it helped bolster the legend of Quetzalcoatl as well as scramble the Aztec strategy of warfare. With the horse the Spanish were able to move quicker, and the Aztecs had at first no way of knowing what the animal was nor if it was even defeatable. The legend of Quetzalcoatl also gave Cortez the opportunity to scramble for native warriors and begin to stratagize against the Aztecs. The legend of Quetzalcoatl prevented Moctezuma from truly showing the full force of the Aztec army. Moreover, the Amerindians of the region were not well equipped for lethal combat because they battles were meant to collect slaves and sacrificial victims for ceremonies. Their weapons were not meant to kill as much as they were meant to stun unlike the swords and guns of the Spanish that were meant for killing.