How Did The Americas Influence The Conquest Of The Aztecs

In 1521, the Aztecs tirelessly defended their capital against Hernan Cortés, a Spanish conquistador, and his convoy of fellow Spaniards and native allies. Founded in 1345 on the shore of Lake Texcoco, Tenochtitlan became the capital city and religious center for the Mexica people of the Aztec empire. An Aztec eyewitness describes in detail the final days of the once powerful city as it fell to the Spaniards. When Christopher Columbus arrived to the Indies in 1492, he opened the gates for Spanish exploration in the Americas, beginning an era of expeditions, conquests and war. The early 16th century presented itself with prodigious opportunity and overall fortune for the Spaniards. When the Spanish received news of Columbus’ findings, many hopeful conquistadors began planning and mapping voyages to the New World. The personal desire for fame and fortune encouraged young Spaniards to leave their old life behind and
Afterwards, Moctezuma led Cortés to the palace of his father, Axayacatl (site). Cortés, who was greedy for power and wealth, wanted to reinforce his position and forced Moctezuma to move to a different room in the palace using death threats. Moctezuma, who once ruled one of the greatest empires in human history, was now powerless in his own kingdom. Aware of the victory, Spaniards began vandalizing, defacing and destroying temples and religious centers. For example, Spaniards replaced the stone image of Huitzilopochtli, or other indigenous gods, with a cross and an image of the Virgin Mary (site). While celebrating victory in Tenochtitlan, Cortés received news that a Spanish expedition, led by Velázquez, made landfall, which threatened Cortés’s plans. However, Cortés seemed unbothered and began his march to the coast after leaving a Spanish garrison under the command of Pedro de Alvarado (footnote)