What happened to the Aztecs after the Spanish conquest?

What happened to the Aztecs after the Spanish conquest?

The Aztecs were severely weakened by diseases that the Spanish brought such as smallpox, influenza, and malaria. Over time, around 80 percent of the people living in the Valley of Mexico died from these diseases. Cortés founded Mexico City on the ruins of Tenochtitlan.

How did the Spanish conquest affect the Aztecs?

The Spanish had a positive effect on Aztec civilization because they helped modernize the society. They introduced the Aztecs to domestic animals, sugar, grains, and European farming practices. Most significantly, the Spanish ended the Aztec’s practice of human sacrifice.

Why did the Spanish invade the Aztecs?

Hernán Cortés was a Spanish conquistador, or conqueror, best remembered for conquering the Aztec empire in 1521 and claiming Mexico for Spain. “He was a smart, ambitious man who wanted to appropriate new land for the Spanish crown, convert native inhabitants to Catholicism, and plunder the lands for gold and riches.”

What impact did the conquistadors have on the Aztec and Inca empires?

The spanish conquered the great Aztec and Inca empires by bringing diseases to kill most of them off quickly, scaring them with the horses, and using their more advanced superior weapons to kill them.

What did the Aztecs call the Spanish?

And they called the Spanish language ‘the tongue of the coyotes’ or perhaps better ‘coyote-speak’ (coyoltlahtolli). Apparently the Totonac people referred to the Spanish invaders as ‘snakes’.

What did the Aztecs call boats?

Canoes and Boats A dugout canoe was very useful for navigating the canals and lake surrounding Tenochtitlan. These canoes were made from hollowed-out logs burned by fire. Aztec carpenters also made a flat-bottomed boat similar to a raft, consisting of planks of wood tied together with tight fibers.

What were the 5 social classes of the Aztecs?

The Aztecs followed a strict social hierarchy in which individuals were identified as nobles (pipiltin), commoners (macehualtin), serfs, or slaves. The noble class consisted of government and military leaders, high level priests, and lords (tecuhtli).

What was the Aztecs technology?

Aztec technology was so advanced that they even made drills, which were made of reed or bone. The Aztecs also made a variety of weapons. One weapon, the atlatl, made it easier to throw a spear. In addition, this weapon was used to aid in fishing.

How did the Aztecs cure diseases?

The way to treat this disease was to march in front of others wearing the skins from human sacrifices during the second month. After they did this, Xipe Totec would cure them of their ailments. When people broke vows such as fasting or celibacy, Tezcatlipoca would induce incurable disease.

Why do the Aztecs sacrifice humans?

In ancient Mesoamerica human sacrifices were viewed as a repayment for the sacrifices the gods had themselves made in creating the world. In Mesoamerican culture human sacrifices were viewed as a repayment for the sacrifices the gods had themselves made in creating the world and the sun.

When did Aztecs sacrifice humans?

From their knowledge of the eras of the Templo Mayor, archaeologists estimate that the particular phases of the tzompantli they found were likely built between 1486 and 1502, although human sacrifice had been practiced in Tenochtitlan since its founding in 1325.