How Spanish Meanly Destroyed the Aztec Civilization

To beging with, the Aztec empire dominated much of modern day Mexico, by overwhelming their enemies with superior battle techniques, they were able to create a unique and refined culture, which was then summarily conquered through the efforts of one man, Hernan Cortes. Cortes used the superior weaponry of the Spanish, a deadly disease (Chiken Pox) and the insatiable lust for gold every Spaniard had to overwhelm and annihilate the Aztec empire which resulted in one of the world most unique cultures being obliterated from our planet.

The Spanish bought two things that helped them demolish the Aztecs, the first being cold hard steel. The steel they used to put hundreds of warriors to death, eventually bringing down the entire empire. The Spanish weaponry was far superior to the Aztec weaponry because of Aztec materials. The need for armour existed in the Aztec empire area but making armour was not simple, there was a big barrier. The major barrier being the lack of materials. Metal and steel were not used because the metalworkers could only use copper, silver and gold, the most common in the Aztec empire. None of this equipment was suitable for armour. To solve this problem the Aztecs used cotton armour, which provided the bare minimum protection. They decorated this armour depending on your rank in the military. Aztec armour/warfare wasn’t the best and along with that they had to handle fight during a deadly, ruthless disease.

The second thing that the Spanish bought was a deadly disease, more specifically, smallpox. Smallpox was a fire that burned down the empire from the inside. It is a severe contagious viral disease, with fever and boils that usually left permanent scars. Smallpox came to Tenochtitlan in 1517 through African slaves. When the Spaniards came to Tenochtitlan they bought many African slaves and the disease that the African slaves had, the Spaniards contracted. Therefore, when a Spanish soldier died the disease he had was left in his blood, this is the way the Aztecs truly met disease. Since the Europeans were so used to deadly diseases, their immune system could slightly fight the small pox, this wasn’t the case with Aztecs. Smallpox affected their daily life severely, as everyone was too ill to produce food and water. Farmers, builders and workers were humans as well, they were able to catch smallpox. This slowed down the empire’s daily practices and routines. With no one left to fend for them, the Aztec people understood that this was the end of their rule.

While it lasted, the Aztec empire was truly amazing. It was an empire that could’ve have conquered the world’s knowledge. If it wasn’t for the disease and warfare that the Spanish bought, then the Aztec empire would be a strongly running empire now. Whether to think of the Spanish as mighty people or evil humans, is still not decided. They took down an entire empire but did it hiding behind their advantages, weapons and disease. The Aztecs were very tough but the Spanish were determined, and that’s what got them through.

Bibliography

• http://www.aztec-history.com/ The Fall of the Aztecs [Online] // http://www.aztec-history.com/. - http://www.aztec-history.com/fall-of-the-aztec-empire.html.
• https://www.warriorsandlegends.com/ Warriors & Legends [Online] // https://www.warriorsandlegends.com/. - 2013 . - https://www.warriorsandlegends.com/aztec-warriors/aztec-warrior-armour/.
• Minister Christopher Hernan Cortes' Conquistador Army [Online] // https://www.thoughtco.com/. - 17 March 2017. - https://www.thoughtco.com/hernan-cortes-conquistador-army-2136521.
• Thomas Hugh Montezuma, Cortes and the Fall of Old Mexico [Book Section] // Montezuma, Cortes and the Fall of Old Mexico. - New York : Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, 1993.