What did the Aztec and Inca both attempt to do to eliminate the Spanish threat to their respective empires?
Both the Aztec and Inca attempted to resist and eliminate the Spanish threat to their empires through various means:
1. Military resistance: Both civilizations engaged in armed conflict with the Spanish conquistadors. The Aztecs, under the leadership of Emperor Moctezuma II, initially welcomed the Spanish, but later fought against them when they realized their true intentions. The Inca, led by Emperor Atahualpa, also initially received the Spanish peacefully but eventually clashed with them in the Battle of Cajamarca.
2. Diplomatic strategies: The Aztec and Inca rulers attempted to negotiate and form alliances with neighboring indigenous groups who had also been affected by Spanish colonization. They sought to create a united front against the Spanish invasions.
3. Propaganda and psychological warfare: Both civilizations tried to use psychological tactics to weaken Spanish morale and intimidate them. The Aztecs, for instance, spread rumors of their gods' anger and conducted night raids to create a climate of fear among the Spanish. The Incas used psychological warfare by displaying their wealth and military power to bolster their image and intimidate the Spanish.
4. Guerrilla tactics: As the Spanish advanced, both the Aztecs and Incas used guerrilla warfare tactics, such as ambushes, hit-and-run attacks, and disrupting supply lines. These unconventional strategies aimed to wear down the Spanish forces and hinder their progress.
Despite their efforts, neither the Aztec nor Inca empire could successfully eliminate the Spanish threat, eventually leading to their downfall and colonization by the Spanish. The combination of superior weaponry, diseases, divisions within indigenous groups, and the strategic tactics employed by the Spanish ultimately proved to be too overwhelming for both civilizations.