Spanish Empire Vs Mexica Empire

Hierarchies were fundamental aspects of both the Spanish and Mexica empires, and permeated through all aspects of society, including religion. When the two groups interacted for the first time, they established a hierarchical relationship with the Spanish in a superior position to the Mexica, which allowed for the Spanish conquest of the Mexica empire. The Spanish considered themselves superior for a variety of reasons, including religion, politics, technology, and immunity to diseases, viewed as supernatural beings by the Mexica. The impact of hierarchy on the social structures and religion of both the Spanish and the Mexica empire before and after contact led to the Spanish conquest of the Mexica empire.
The proliferation of the Catholic …show more content…
The Mexica feared the weapons that the Spanish brought with them. It was the first time the Mexica interacted with advanced technology such as a weapon that “sounds like the clouds” and “kills all those it meets”. The Mexica had only two-handed swords and arrows, but the Spanish had an array of swords, firearms, explosives, armor, cannons, and horses, which was very intimidating for the Mexica. The Spanish used these unknown objects as fear tactics to scare the natives, who were disoriented, into submission. Their superior weaponry gave them an advantage of the Mexica and allowed them to conquer the …show more content…
When they arrived in Tenochtitlan, the residents were already resigned to their faith, knowing they were “about to die and perish, we are awaiting our deaths”. This reinforced the Spaniards’ perceived superiority, partly stemming from the esteem that the Mexica gave them. Tenochtitlan was known as the foundation of heaven, and the city itself was given a divine status. This inspired the Mexica to fight and defend something so great. Even the Spanish, when they first entered the city, were in awe as they gazed “on such wonderful sights, we did not know what to say, or whether what appeared before us was real,”. They compared the city of Tenochtitlan to European cities such as Venice. This was one of the first times that the Spanish saw the Mexica as civilized human beings that were similar to the Spanish and