Bonus - primary doc edition : Cortez-Aztecs

Based on Cortez's description of Montezuma's rule in his letter to Carlos V, what does the structure of the Aztec Empire suggest about its vulnerability to conquest? Quote: "All or most of them (the chiefs of these provinces) have their oldest sons in the service of Monteczuma. There are fortified places in all the provinces, garrisoned with his own men, where are also stationed his governors and collectors of the rents and tribute, rendered him by every province; and an account is kept of what each is obliged to pay..."

• The Aztec Empire was a loose federation of independent provinces, allowing each region to act independently.

• The centralized control and tribute system might foster anger/resentment among conquered provinces, creating opportunities for rebellion.

• The structure shows the Aztec Empire was completely unified and difficult to overthrow, as Montezuma's rule was unquestioned.

• The Spanish were impressed with the empire's administrative complexity and sought to replicate it in their own colonies.

In Bernal Diaz's account of the Tlaxcalans and the Spaniards, what key factor in the Spanish success does this interaction highlight? Quote:"Several hours elapsed before the whole had entered the town, and yet none of our Tlaxcallan friends moved out of the ranks, while they continually kept crying out: Long live the emperor, our master! Spain forever! Tlaxcala forever!"

• The Spaniards were able to intimidate their allies into compliance through military power.

• The Tlaxcalans' loyalty to Spain suggests the importance of alliances with indigenous groups in the conquest of the Aztecs.

• The Spanish conquistadors primarily relied on their own military strength to defeat the Aztec Empire.

• The Tlaxcalans refused to cooperate with the Spaniards, causing a rift that weakened the conquest.

Based on the Aztec account of the La Noche Triste (Night of Sorrows) and its aftermath, what additional factor significantly weakened the Aztec resistance to the Spanish conquest? Quote: "The Spaniards attempted to slip out of the city at night, but we attacked furiously at the Canal of the Toltecs, and many of them died ... this was the same year in which Montezuma died… Then they (the surviving Spaniards)... camped in Temazcalapan, where the people gave them hens, eggs, and corn. They rested for a short while and returned to Tlaxcala…. Soon after, an epidemic broke out in Tenochtitlan. Almost the whole population suffered from wracking coughs and painful, burning sores."

• The success of the Spanish was primarily due to their ability to flee dangerous situations, such as during La Noche Triste.

• The collapse of Montezuma's leadership directly caused the Aztec defeat, as no successor could take his place.

• The outbreak of disease, in addition to the Spanish attacks, severely weakened the Aztec population and their ability to resist.

• The Aztecs were able to successfully fight back against the Spanish, but their loss was due to a lack of support from neighboring regions.

Based on Bernal Diaz's account below, what military advantage does Díaz attribute to the Spanish in their battles against the Aztecs? Quote: "We had a great advantage, as we were mounted and they were not. Our horses were like thunder to them, striking fear into their hearts. While they fought on foot, we charged through their lines with speed and ferocity, overwhelming them before they could regroup. This cavalry made all the difference in the battles we fought."

• The Spanish were better trained in hand-to-hand combat than the Aztec warriors.

• The Spanish cavalry's mobility and psychological impact gave them a decisive advantage in battle.

• The Spanish forces did not ever use vicious war dogs to attack the Aztecs.

• The Spanish cavalry was able to hold off Aztec attacks, but did not play a significant role in the conquest.

Based on Bernal Diaz's account below, what does he suggest was a key reason the Spanish were able to enter Tenochtitlán without immediate conflict? Quote: "The Aztecs believed us to be gods, and this made our entrance into Tenochtitlán much easier. When we first arrived, they treated us with great reverence, offering gifts and hospitality. They had heard tales of our coming and viewed us through the lens of their religious beliefs, which allowed us to move freely among them without immediate hostility."

• The Aztecs were terrified of the Spanish weapons and surrendered immediately upon their arrival.

• The Spanish used deception to trick the Aztecs into welcoming them into the city.

• The Aztec religious beliefs, likely viewing the Spaniards as divine, allowed the Spanish to enter peacefully.

• The Spanish bribed the Aztec leaders with gifts, securing their passage into Tenochtitlán without violence.

According to Díaz, how did the Tlaxcalans and other native allies contribute to the success of the Spanish conquest? Quote: "The alliances we formed with the Tlaxcalans and other tribes gave us both soldiers and vital intelligence. These groups had long been oppressed by the Aztecs and were eager to join forces with us. Their knowledge of the terrain and the strategies of the Aztecs proved invaluable, allowing us to plan our assaults and ambushes with greater effectiveness."

• The Tlaxcalans provided food and shelter, but no military support, to the Spanish.

• Native allies gave the Spanish critical manpower, as well as strategic information about the Aztecs.

• The Tlaxcalans acted as peace negotiators between the Spanish and the Aztecs to prevent further conflict.

• The Spanish relied entirely on their own forces and received no meaningful help from native allies during the conquest.

Which factor does Bernal Díaz emphasize as playing a critical role in the Spanish conquest of the Aztecs? Quote: "The alliances we formed with the Tlaxcalans and other tribes gave us both soldiers and vital intelligence. These groups had long been oppressed by the Aztecs and were eager to join forces with us. Their knowledge of the terrain and the strategies of the Aztecs proved invaluable, allowing us to plan our assaults and ambushes with greater effectiveness."

• The lack of unity among the Aztec tributary states made it easier for the Spanish to form alliances and plan their attacks.

• The Spanish relied solely on the superiority of their weapons to defeat the Aztecs, as alliances played a minor role.

• The Aztecs underestimated the Spanish because they had never faced a European army before.

• The Spanish victory was due to Montezuma's failure to lead his people effectively, rather than any strategic alliances.

According to the Aztec account in the Florentine Codex, what role did the Tlaxcalans play in the Cholula Massacre? Quote: "They were ambushed because the Tlaxcalans persuaded [the Spaniards] to do it."

• The Tlaxcalans acted as neutral observers during the massacre.

• The Tlaxcalans encouraged and played a key role in the ambush carried out by the Spaniards.

• The Tlaxcalans tried to warn the people of Cholula about the Spanish attack but failed.

• The Tlaxcalans were unaware of the massacre and played no role in the events.

What does the reaction of the common people, as described in the quote from the Aztec account (Florentine Codex), suggest about the impact of the Cholula Massacre on the Aztec Empire? Quote: "There was no time when they did not listen, when there were no reports. For all of the common people were filled with fright."

• The common people were indifferent to the events in Cholula and continued with their daily lives.

• The massacre instilled widespread fear among the common people, as news of the Spaniards' violence spread quickly.

• The common people were inspired by the massacre to rise up and fight against the Spanish.

• The common people did not hear about the massacre, as information was kept secret by Aztec leaders.

How did the Aztecs' initial perception of the Spaniards, as described by Bernal Díaz, contribute to the Spanish ability to maneuver within Tenochtitlán? Quote: "The Aztecs believed us to be gods, and this made our entrance into Tenochtitlán much easier. When we first arrived, they treated us with great reverence, offering gifts and hospitality. They had heard tales of our coming and viewed us through the lens of their religious beliefs, which allowed us to move freely among them without immediate hostility."

• The Aztecs' belief in the divinity of the Spaniards allowed the Spanish to manipulate Aztec religious practices to their advantage.

• The Spaniards were disguised as Aztec priests, allowing them to move freely in Tenochtitlán.

• The Spanish threatened to use their advanced weaponry to intimidate the Aztecs into cooperation.

• The Spaniards imposed heavy taxes on the Aztecs immediately upon their arrival, leading to their domination.