Ancient history

What caused the end of aztecan civilization?

1. Arrival of Europeans:

- The landing of Spanish conquistadors led by Hernán Cortés in 1519 triggered the downfall of the Aztec empire.

- Cortés and his men brought superior weapons, including guns and horses, which gave them a military advantage over the Aztecs.

2. Disease:

- The arrival of Europeans also brought deadly diseases such as smallpox, measles, and typhus, to which the indigenous population had no immunity.

- These diseases ravaged the Aztec population and weakened their ability to resist the Spanish invasion.

3. Political Divisions:

- At the time of the Spanish arrival, the Aztec Empire was facing internal conflicts and divisions among vassal states.

- Some of these states saw the Spanish as an opportunity to gain independence from Aztec rule and allied with Cortés, further undermining the empire.

4. Superior Strategy and Alliances:

- Cortés was able to form alliances with native groups who were resentful of Aztec rule, such as the Tlaxcalans and Texcocans.

- These alliances provided invaluable military support and intelligence to the Spanish, allowing them to take advantage of the Aztecs' weaknesses.

5. Fall of Tenochtitlan:

- In 1521, after a siege that lasted several months, the Spanish and their native allies captured and destroyed the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan.

- The capture of Tenochtitlan marked the end of the Aztec empire and paved the way for Spanish domination in Mesoamerica.