The Fall of the Aztec Empire
Sometime in the thirteenth century, a nomadic tribe from northern Mexico made its way south and established the city of Tenochtitlan. Legend tells that when these nomads arrived in the area, they saw an eagle land on a cactus. They believed it to be a sign from the gods telling them where to build their settlement. Over the next two centuries, Tenochtitlan grew into the vast and powerful Aztec empire. At its height, their empire covered much of what is central Mexico and Nicaragua. Then the Spaniards came.
The Mighty Aztecs
Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés landed in the Bay of Capeche on the Gulf of Mexico in March of 1519. At that time, the Aztec empire was thriving. Under the rule of Montezuma II, the empire had grown to five or six million people. Many lived in large cities. Tenochtitlan had a population of 140,000. Montezuma ruled over 400 or 500 individual states. The Aztecs had a highly structured social system. They had not one, but two, intricate calendars that marked the seasons. They worshipped multiple gods and there was an elaborate ceremony to mark each month of the year.
They had a strong government, too. Bustling markets reflected a thriving economy. The people created magnificent works of art and architecture. These included gold jewelry. sculpture, monuments, statues, and temples to the gods. The Aztec army far outnumbered that of the Spaniards. But attempting to rule an area of this size breeds internal conflicts. Some groups under Aztec rule were not happy under their control.
Cortés Plans for Conquest
When Cortés landed in the Bay of Campeche, he made friends with the local Mayan villagers. He even took a wife who spoke both Mayan and Aztec. It was here that Cortés heard stories of the riches of the neighboring Aztec empire. Cortés sailed his troops up the Mexican coast and founded a new colony which he named Veracruz. Here, he made plans to conquer the Aztecs. He trained his troops and even burned his ships so none of his men could easily leave.
Then he set off for Tenochtitlan. The city was a great distance inland. It would require a three-month march. No doubt word of the expedition preceded them on their journey. The Spaniards must have looked strange to the locals, since most were fair-skinned and many wore beards. Plus, many were riding strange and unknown beasts (horses) and carrying steel weapons. Along the way Cortés fought with, but often also made allies of, some of the groups unhappy under Aztec rule. The number of marchers grew. Since the Spaniards were in the lead, anyone watching would have thought them powerful indeed.
When Cortés arrived in Tenochtitlan, Montezuma welcomed him. Some stories claim that the Aztecs mistook Cortés for a god. All of those stories seem to be of Spanish origin, and scholars believe that they are false. Others believe that an official greeting from the ruler was simply the custom of the Aztec people. Still others argue that Montezuma was taking the measure of Cortés and was perhaps misled by the words of Cortés's wife that their intent was peaceful. Whatever the case, Cortés took Montezuma and other leaders hostage, and looted the city shamelessly.
The Spanish army, though smaller in number, was much more advanced than that of the Aztecs. The Spaniards had horses, rifles, cannon, and steel-bladed swords. They carried with them another weapon that proved to be even more deadly. Disease. The Spaniards introduced smallpox to Mexico, and the natives were unable to fight it. The smallpox epidemic that swept through the population in 1520 killed many of the Aztec people. Other epidemics followed. In fact, scholars now believe that disease played a large role in the death of the empire. An estimated five to eight million people died from smallpox. Among the dead were the emperor, Cuitláhuac, who had succeeded Montezuma after his capture, and many leaders of the Aztec army.
The Siege of Tenochtitlan
When Cuitláhuac died of smallpox, a man named Cuauhtémoc became emperor. For a time, Cuauhtémoc succeeded in fighting the Spaniards and drove them out of the city. But the Spaniards returned with a stronger army. Cortés had won the favor of neighboring people who resisted Aztec rule, and they joined him in the fight. They attacked settlement after settlement near the Aztec capital. Then they seized Tenochtitlan, yet again. The siege of Tenochtitlan lasted four months. Cortés murdered thousands of people, including the top lords and priests. Historical accounts of the siege stress the brutality of the Spanish army. With the Aztec population extremely weakened, the Spaniards quickly destroyed the empire. In a matter of months, they reduced the city to ruins. Later, Cortés and his followers built Mexico City on top of the ruins.
After reading answer the question, describe some of the factors that influenced the fall of the Aztec Empire? In 2-3 sentences