The Broken Spears is a book written by Miguel Leon-Portilla that gives accounts of the fall of the Aztec Empire to the Spanish in the early 16th century. The book is much different from others written about the defeat of the empire because it was written from the vantage point of the Aztecs rather then the Spanish. Portilla describes in-depth many different reasons why the Spanish were successful in the defeat of such a strong Empire. Portilla starts out by giving a thorough background of the
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contributed to the defeat of the Aztecs? Though there appear to be several factors involved in the defeat of the Aztecs‚ three stood out above the others: (1) superstition‚ (2) weapons and warring tactics‚ and (3) the introduction of new diseases. Ten years prior to the arrival of the Spaniards‚ there were eight signs or omens that appeared to predict the downfall of civilization or the end of the world. Superstition‚ omens‚ magicians‚ signs‚ etc. were a major part of the Aztec religion and one can see
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Cultural Difference and Identity Formation Fall 2012 / 1400 Ad to Present/WCIV 10200 5 EF October 29‚ 2012 In a Aztec account of the conquest of Mexico it is very clear that Hernan Cortés’s way of Empire building and culture conquest in my opinion was by deceiving Montezuma. He had Montezuma believing he had come in peace although his entrance said otherwise. His style emphasized Military traditions along with the accompanying courage
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Through her interference with the Aztec’s way of life‚ Barbara represents the modern European/American culture in opposition to the Aztecs. She feels the need to save the Aztecs from themselves — to intervene and correct their ways through enlightening them of the flaws in their religion. Yet‚ every time she interferes and tries to essentially westernize the Aztecs‚ she makes her own situation‚ and that of her fellow travelers‚ more dangerous. By objecting to the various elements of the Aztec’s way
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The victory of Spanish over the Aztecs. The victory of Cortes over the Aztec was the result of certain military advantages the conquistadors enjoyed‚ as well as specific problems that weakened the Aztec people and made the empire more vulnerable. It is almost impossible to believe that a small amount of Spanish soldiers were able to conquer the mighty Aztec empire in this historic battle. As soon as Cortes and his army arrived to Mexico in 1519‚ where the Aztec used to live. They were kindly
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The Aztecs did many things in their daily life. Such as every kid had to go to school even slave children. The people responsible for running the schools were called priests. The girls mainly learned about marriage in school. Aztecs learned about religion and work skills. The Aztecs also had to learn about warfare‚history and citizenship. Also‚the Aztecs had four leadership and society classes called nobles‚commoners‚serfs and slaves. Something Aztecs enjoyed doing was to play music‚make arts and
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The conflict between Spanish and Aztecs The Aztecs were an advanced civilization of people with dominant power that lived in the Valley of Mexico. However‚ those people were destined to fall and this was unavoidable. It is unimaginable that such a strong tribe would have a result ending this devastated. The reason why this happened is that in 1519‚ Hernan Cortes who was a Spanish conquistador arrived on the land of Tenochtitlan (Capital city of Aztecs) along with his men. He was welcomed as if a
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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
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In the 1400’s‚ the Aztecs began to expand their empire greatly. The Aztec empire did not rule directly over conquered people. Aztecs made alliances with nearby city-states conquered others. According to document 1‚ the rule of the Aztec empire differs from other empires by‚ demanding tribute payments in form of food and clothing‚ precious stones‚ furs‚ fine woods‚ and slaves. Conquered people didn’t refuse to pay tributes to the Aztecs‚ because trade and tribute held the Aztec empire together. As
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The Aztecs civilization and the Mayan civilization where the most important civilizations from the new world that amazed many of the Europeans that came to conquer this wonderful rich land. The Europeans where amazed with the Aztec and Mayan culture‚ their ways of life‚ their geographical surroundings and their technology. The Europeans and historians today find that the Aztecs and the Mayans where similar in some ways of life like their culture‚ their technology‚ their religious events and at the
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