Spanish Aztec War
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The Aztec-Spanish War: Causes and Effects
Shane J. Bergen
HIST101 American History to 1877
Professor Lawhorn
May 28, 2013
The Aztec-Spanish War The Aztec empire was one of the strongest and most expansive empires in the 15th century. They cemented their power by securing strategic alliances, but they also established enemies who would eventually aid their demise. The Aztec-Spanish War is officially described to have lasted between 1519 and 15211, but many events before this actual date added to the causes of this war that decimated this once great civilization. The Aztec-Spanish War is wrought with a litany of causes and a list of consequences and effects that affected the development of the New World.
In the Aztec-Spanish War, the Spanish were able to have native support by means of strategic alliances with the enemies of the Aztecs. One of these enemies was the Totonac Indians who welcomed Grijalva and his men in hopes of destroying Aztec rule2. Hernán Cortés followed Grijalva’s expeditions and made several key alliances along the way. In 1519, Cortés meets and joins Gerónimo de Aguilar, a castaway who lived among the Indians of the Yucatán for 8 years, and Aguilar serves as a resourceful translator3. Several months later, Cortés acquires another translator as a spoil from his victory against the Mayas. His interpreter and mistress “Malinche (later baptized ‘Doña Marina’)… [spoke] Náhuatl, the language of the Aztecs4.” He continues to make powerful friends who are enemies of the Aztecs when he forms “an alliance with the inland tribes of Tlaxcala and Huejotzingo” who desire to help Cortés overthrow the Aztecs5.
With a large company of Indians and his Spaniard army, Cortés occupies Tenochtitlán and his army lives there with the emperor, Montezuma, being his captive6. In 1520, Cortés yet again adds to his ranks by incorporating the army of Narváez, who had been sent to kill Cortés by a Spanish governor7. In addition to
The Aztec-Spanish War: Causes and Effects
Shane J. Bergen
HIST101 American History to 1877
Professor Lawhorn
May 28, 2013
The Aztec-Spanish War The Aztec empire was one of the strongest and most expansive empires in the 15th century. They cemented their power by securing strategic alliances, but they also established enemies who would eventually aid their demise. The Aztec-Spanish War is officially described to have lasted between 1519 and 15211, but many events before this actual date added to the causes of this war that decimated this once great civilization. The Aztec-Spanish War is wrought with a litany of causes and a list of consequences and effects that affected the development of the New World.
In the Aztec-Spanish War, the Spanish were able to have native support by means of strategic alliances with the enemies of the Aztecs. One of these enemies was the Totonac Indians who welcomed Grijalva and his men in hopes of destroying Aztec rule2. Hernán Cortés followed Grijalva’s expeditions and made several key alliances along the way. In 1519, Cortés meets and joins Gerónimo de Aguilar, a castaway who lived among the Indians of the Yucatán for 8 years, and Aguilar serves as a resourceful translator3. Several months later, Cortés acquires another translator as a spoil from his victory against the Mayas. His interpreter and mistress “Malinche (later baptized ‘Doña Marina’)… [spoke] Náhuatl, the language of the Aztecs4.” He continues to make powerful friends who are enemies of the Aztecs when he forms “an alliance with the inland tribes of Tlaxcala and Huejotzingo” who desire to help Cortés overthrow the Aztecs5.
With a large company of Indians and his Spaniard army, Cortés occupies Tenochtitlán and his army lives there with the emperor, Montezuma, being his captive6. In 1520, Cortés yet again adds to his ranks by incorporating the army of Narváez, who had been sent to kill Cortés by a Spanish governor7. In addition to
Bibliography: Daniel, Douglas A. 1992. "TACTICAL FACTORS IN THE SPANISH CONQUEST OF THE AZTECS." Anthropological Quarterly 65, no Lewis, Gavin. WCIV, 2011, quoted in Fiona Mani, The Aztecs, Quill and Musket Lecturer Series. Rulska, Anna. "Conquistadores." In World at War: Understanding Conflict and Society. ABC-CLIO, 2010-. Accessed May 23, 2013 Seaman, Rebecca. "Aztec-Spanish War (Causes)." In World at War: Understanding Conflict and Society.ABC-CLIO, 2010-. Accessed May 26, 2013 Seaman, Rebecca. "Aztec-Spanish War (Consequences)." In World at War: Understanding Conflict and Society.ABC-CLIO, 2010-. Accessed May 23, 2013 World at War: Understanding Conflict and Society, s.v. "Aztec-Spanish War Timeline," accessed May 23, 2013