how did cortes convince montezuma to welcome him initially?
a. offering military support
b. promising trad benefits
c. posing as an aztec god
d. building alliances with the neighnoring tribes
c. posing as an Aztec god
Cortes convinced Montezuma to welcome him initially by posing as an Aztec god.
To understand how Cortes managed to convince Montezuma to initially welcome him, we need to look into historical accounts of the time. Cortes was a Spanish conquistador who led an expedition to the Aztec Empire in the 16th century. There are different factors that contributed to Cortes' successful interactions with Montezuma:
1. Building alliances with neighboring tribes (Option D): Before reaching the Aztec Empire, Cortes formed alliances with indigenous tribes who were enemies of the Aztecs. These tribes had grievances with the Aztecs and were willing to assist Cortes in his conquest. This gave Cortes an advantage and a local support network.
2. Promising trade benefits (Option B): Cortes, aware of the Aztec Empire's wealth, offered Montezuma the prospect of trade and access to Spanish goods, such as metals, textiles, and exotic goods. The promise of mutually beneficial economic relationships incentivized Montezuma to initially welcome Cortes.
3. Posing as an Aztec god (Option C): While it is true that Cortes manipulated Aztec religious beliefs to some extent, posing as a god was not the primary factor in convincing Montezuma. Cortes exploited the belief in Quetzalcoatl, an Aztec deity prophesied to return from the east and bring change and chaos. Montezuma believed that Cortes might be the returning god, which initially made him hesitant to confront him.
4. Offering military support (Option A): Initially, Montezuma did not open hostility to Cortes because he feared the Spanish military power and weaponry. Montezuma was aware of the Spanish conquests in the Caribbean and understood the potential danger of outright resistance.
It's important to note that these factors were not mutually exclusive. Cortes employed a combination of diplomacy, manipulation, military prowess, and exploiting local tensions to gain Montezuma's initial cooperation.