Question

An illustration from the Huexotzinco Codex depicts Mexicans providing products and services as taxes to the Spanish conquerors.The text explains how Hernán Cortés conquered the Aztecs with just a few hundred European men, but this was a complex process that relied on more than the might of his superior military technology and weapons. Place in chronological order the events and actions that led to Cortés conquering the Aztecs.

Answer 1

The Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire involved a series of events, including forming alliances with local tribes, taking Emperor Moctezuma hostage, capitalizing on internal dissent, and utilizing advanced military technology and the devastating effect of smallpox.

Step-by-step explanation:

The conquest of the Aztec Empire by Hernán Cortés is a complex historical event that goes beyond the narrative of European superiority. Cortés landed on Good Friday, April 22, 1519, at Veracruz, and over the course of two years, the Spaniards and their native allies worked towards the fall of Tenochtitlán. The key chronological events that contributed to the Spanish conquest include:

1. The landing of Cortés and the beginning of alliances with discontented native tribes like the Tlaxcalans who opposed Aztec rule.
2. The Spanish encounter with the Aztec Emperor Moctezuma II and Cortés’ decision to take him hostage.
3. The massacre of Aztec nobles by Pedro de Alvarado during a religious festival, which incited an uprising against the Spanish.
4. The subsequent retreat of Cortés to Tlaxcala after the death of Moctezuma and the initial defeat by the Aztecs.
5. The siege of Tenochtitlán supported by a vast number of indigenous allies and the introduction of smallpox, which devastated the city's population.
6. The final surrender of the Aztec capital on August 13, 1521, and the establishment of Mexico City over the ruins of Tenochtitlán.

Throughout this period, the Spaniards were significantly aided not only by their military technology but also by exploiting existing native conflicts and the catastrophic impact of smallpox on the indigenous population.