Impact Of Spanish Conquest On The Aztecs

The Aztecs did not actually refer to themselves as Aztecs. In fact, a significant percentage of the Aztecs were of a tribe called the Mexica Tribe and the people were referred to as the Mexica People. The term Aztec was coined by the Spanish but was made popular by the Germans in the early 1900s. The topic of this essay is to find out if the Spanish Conquest of the Americas had a significant impact on the Aztecs. In the first paragraph, the way of life preceding Spanish arrival and interaction will be analysed in the 1st body paragraph. When and how the Spanish conquistadors arrived in the Americas and the purpose for their arrival will be the topic of the 2nd body paragraph. In the final body paragraph, the significance of Spanish colonisation …show more content…
What was the culture and life of the Aztecs prior to Spanish arrival?
The Aztec Culture in the Americas was well structured and was very purposeful. They encouraged education for their children, this was important in the development of the Aztecs. The nobles in Aztec society also had perks and reserved priorities that the commoners didn’t have. Their religious beliefs were at the forefront of all their activities and gave equal respect and reverence to all their gods. Primary source one (Darlington et.al) states that the Nobles and the Warriors had a stronger diet than the rest. Chocolate was reserved for those who had a higher position in society. Source one (Darlington et.al) also states that the warriors and nobles got the better pick of land. In the perspective of this source, Aztec society was structural and had a slight feudal influence. Primary source two (Staff, History.com) states that the children were given an education. It expresses that boys were required to know how to hunt and girls were supposed to know how to keep the home. This educational requirement was centrifugal in building the Aztec society as it was the education that the Aztecs received …show more content…
The Aztecs converted their religions to Christianity and they lost most of their unique distinction from the Maya and Inca people because of trade and social interaction. In the perspective of the Aztecs, there was lots of death in Aztec society because of resistance and food shortages. The colonisation of the Aztecs meant that Chocolate was brought to Europe. The Spanish also introduced the Aztecs to the world and trade. Primary source one (Darlington, et.al) states the most significant impact of Spanish colonisation is the significant population decrease of the Indigenous people. Source one (Darlington, et.al) also states that “the primary reasons for the significant decrease in population are food shortages, diseases and most prominently physical and social disturbances” i.e. the taking of their private land and resources. Secondary source two (Staff, Weebly.com) states that the Aztecs, Mayans and Incans began to trade with one another. This means that civilisations that were never meant to meet, had interaction and lost their distinction as one another’s unique features and cultures were spread through trade. Source two (Staff, Weebly.com) continues by saying that the fall of Tenochtitlan forced the Aztecs to spread out and this may be when they mixed with the Incans and Mayans. Primary source three (Staff, Cadbury.com) states that on his way back to Spain after the conquest of Tenochtitlan, Hernán Cortés