- Hernán Cortés and a small group of Spanish conquistadors landed on the Mexican coast in 1519. They forged alliances with indigenous groups, particularly the Tlaxcalans, who were eager to overthrow Aztec dominance.
2. Technological Superiority:
- The Spanish possessed superior military technology compared to the Aztecs, including firearms, cannons, metal armor, and horses. These gave them an edge in battle.
3. Disease:
- The Spanish brought with them diseases such as smallpox and measles, which devastated the Aztec population and weakened their military strength.
4. Political Divisions:
- The Aztec Empire was politically divided, and not all vassal states were loyal to the Aztec ruler, Moctezuma II. Some groups saw the Spanish as potential allies against the Aztecs, further aiding the Spanish cause.
5. Psychological Tactics:
- Cortés employed psychological tactics to intimidate the Aztecs. He used loud gunpowder weapons and displayed captured Aztec nobles to spread fear and reduce resistance.
6. Capture of Moctezuma:
- Cortés and his allies launched a surprise attack on Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital, and captured Moctezuma. Moctezuma's capture caused significant disruption to Aztec leadership and morale.
7. Siege of Tenochtitlan:
- When the Spanish faced fierce Aztec resistance, they laid siege to Tenochtitlan. Their superior weaponry and strategy gradually gained ground, leading to street-by-street fighting.
8. Arrival of Reinforcements:
- Hernán Cortés received reinforcements led by Pánfilo de Narváez, sent to arrest him by the governor of Cuba. The merging of the two forces strengthened Cortés's position.
9. Death of Moctezuma:
- During an attempt to negotiate a peace agreement between the Spaniards and the Aztecs, Moctezuma was killed by angry Aztec subjects who viewed him as a traitor to their civilization. His death exacerbated the conflict.
10. Conquest and Fall:
- After months of siege and fierce battles, the Spanish conquistadors finally defeated the Aztecs and captured Tenochtitlan in August 1521, effectively marking the fall of the Aztec Empire and sealing their conquest of Mexico.