Political and Social Changes:
- Loss of Sovereignty: The Aztec Empire was defeated, and the Aztecs lost their political independence. The Spanish established a new colonial government, imposing their own laws and systems of governance.
- Social Hierarchy: The existing social hierarchy of the Aztec society was disrupted. The Spanish introduced a new social order that favored the Spanish colonists and marginalized the indigenous population.
- Religious Conversion: The Spanish brought Catholicism to the region and actively sought to convert the Aztecs. The destruction of Aztec temples and religious sites, as well as the persecution of Aztec religious practices, significantly altered the religious life of the Aztecs.
Economic Changes:
- Tribute and Encomienda System: The Spanish imposed a system of tribute payments, requiring the Aztecs to provide goods and labor to the Spanish colonists. The encomienda system granted Spanish settlers the right to collect tribute from specific Aztec communities. This led to exploitation and economic hardship for many Aztecs.
- Mining and Resource Extraction: The Spanish focused on extracting valuable resources, such as gold and silver, from the region. This resulted in forced labor in mines and other industries, disrupting traditional economic activities and causing social and economic dislocation.
Cultural Changes:
- Language and Education: The Spanish introduced their language, customs, and ways of life to the region. Aztec children were required to learn Spanish and adopt Spanish cultural practices, leading to a gradual loss of the Aztec language and cultural identity.
- Cultural Suppression: Many aspects of Aztec culture were suppressed or discouraged by the Spanish. Traditional ceremonies, rituals, and practices were often seen as pagan and were prohibited or discouraged.
- Intermarriage: Intermarriage between Spaniards and Aztecs occurred, resulting in a merging of cultures and the emergence of a mestizo population.
Disease and Epidemics:
- European Diseases: The arrival of the Spanish brought new diseases, such as smallpox, measles, and influenza, to which the Aztecs had no immunity. These diseases spread rapidly through the population, causing widespread death and devastation.
The Spanish conquest and the subsequent colonial period brought about significant changes to Aztec normal life, fundamentally altering their political, social, economic, cultural, and religious practices. It marked the beginning of a long and complex process of colonization and assimilation that profoundly shaped the development of Mexico and its people.