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The Fall of the Aztecs Introduction The answer to the question in one word as to what caused the fall of the Aztecs is simply gold. However, in this essay we shall reason out how the Aztecs were extinguished as a proud and prosperous people from the annals of history in a short four year period that began in 1517 to bring their downfall by the Spaniards. The Aztec Emperor Montezuma II and the people of his kingdom has sensed a feeling of ill foreboding decades before the arrival of the Spaniards through a number of evil omens that foretold about the calamities that were to follow. The crossing of a fiery comet across the skies, the bursting into flames of their temple and their god of war, the boiling of the Mexican lake, the flooding of their houses and the looking into the mirror by Montezuma and seeing people make war and ride deer like animals etc.
Background The Spaniards had led many expeditions in the Yucatan during this period they had returned with tales of high culture about the Mayan civilization and their gold riches and from their Spanish colony of Cuba, Hernan Cortes has been assigned as a captain general to lead a new expedition to the Yucatan. (The Fall of the Aztecs) On arrival at the Yucatan, Cortes had a stroke of luck through the encounter of Geronimo de Aguilar who knew how to speak the local language. Cortes was very respectfully welcomed by the leaders of Yucatan areas and also offered food, precious gifts, and hospitality. The Fall of the Aztecs Several days later when the Spaniards approached the land of the Aztecs, they demonstrated their military prowess through the guns, horses (which Montezuma had perceived as deer animals during his vision) but what had most intimidated the Aztecs were the firing of the heavy cannons. (A Display of Force) The Aztecs were paralyzed with fear and thought of Cortes as the feathered serpent who had vowed to one day return. Cortes on his part sank all his ships to ensure that his men would not think of a mutiny against him and would therefore be forced to support him fully in his quest to subdue the natives and find their gold. The Spaniards were stunned by the majestic city of Tenochtitlan and committed many atrocities through the killing and massacres that forced the various kingdoms and cities in Montezumas empire to submit to the demands of Cortes. (The Most Beautiful Thing in the World) Fearing that some day the Aztecs would plot to destroy Cortes and his men, Montezuma was put under house arrest and Cortes attempted to rule the Aztecs through the arrested Aztec emperor. Unfortunately, the influence and power the Aztec king had was dwindling as the Aztecs grew resentful of the Spanish attacks on them, their religion and idols and their continued relentless demand for gold. (Montezuma Arrested) In the consequent chain of events Montezuma was killed while in the custody of the Spanish and this caused and uproar within the Aztec ranks after which they attacked the Spaniards who had to retreat from Tenochtitlan.
The Aztecs assumed that the Spaniards had gone for good and also elected a new king, however during this period the Aztecs started dying in great numbers through the spread of a smallpox epidemic which lasted 70 days. Thereafter the Cortes army made their move against the Aztec in their weakened position and completely routed out the Aztecs through killings and massacres with the remaining of them having to flee to the mainland by canoe and thus bringing an end to the entire Aztec people. (The Last Stand, The Aztec Illad) Works Cited: A Display of Force (Accessed: April 13, 2007) web The Fall of the Aztecs (Accessed: April 13, 2007) web Montezuma Arrested (Accessed: April 13, 2007) web The Last Stand, The Aztec Illad (Accessed: April 13, 2007) web The Most Beautiful Thing in the World web
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