Spanish colonization: The Spanish established a colonial rule in Mexico, which lasted for over 300 years. The Spanish imposed their culture, language, religion, and political system on the Aztecs, leading to the loss of much of their indigenous culture and identity.
Economic disruption: The Spanish introduced new forms of labor and production that disrupted traditional Aztec economic practices. The encomienda system forced Aztecs to work in Spanish haciendas, leading to exploitation and forced labor.
Disease: The Spanish brought new diseases to the Americas, such as smallpox, measles, and typhus, to which the Aztecs had no immunity. These diseases decimated the Aztec population, causing a dramatic decline in their numbers.
Loss of land: The Aztecs lost significant amounts of their land to the Spanish, who granted large tracts of land to their supporters and established encomiendas. This dispossession led to social and economic displacement and disruption of Aztec communities.
Cultural suppression: The Spanish suppressed many aspects of Aztec culture, such as their religious practices, their writing system, and their traditional way of life. Many Aztec codices and other cultural artifacts were destroyed or lost, leading to a loss of historical and cultural knowledge.
Resistance and rebellion: The Aztecs resisted Spanish rule through various forms of rebellion and uprisings. These rebellions, however, were ultimately unsuccessful in overthrowing Spanish control.
Social stratification: The Spanish created a new social hierarchy, with the Spaniards at the top, followed by the creoles (people of Spanish descent born in Mexico), the mestizos (people of mixed Spanish and indigenous heritage), and the indigenous people at the bottom. This social stratification persisted for centuries and shaped the social dynamics of Mexico.