Download The End of the Aztecs - KaterinaCLHSportfolio

The End of the Aztecs
The tattered band of Spanish conquistadors crept into the beleaguered city. Everywhere
they looked they saw dead bodies. The 80-day siege that had cut off all supplies of food and
water had transformed the once magnificent Aztec capital of Tenochtitlán into a vast cemetery.
During those 80 days, more than 240,000 people had died agonizing deaths after being reduced to
eating lizards, weeds, and even leather in a vain attempt to cling to life. It was the end of the
mighty Aztec Empire-and of the beautiful city of Tenochtitlán. It was also the tragic end of one of
the most advanced cultures the world has ever seen.
But, how did an empire that ruled more than 15 million people fall to a band of 600
conquistadors? The answer is both intricate and mysterious.
Omens
Montezuma II, emperor of the mighty Aztec Empire, slept fitfully, haunted by the
disturbing omens that soothsayers had been pointing out. Comets, sudden unexplained fires,
floods, and deformed births all indicated that some disaster was about to sweep through the Aztec
realm. To make matters worse, the most learned of the soothsayers were unable to interpret these
dangerous omens.
Fearful for the future, Montezuma had even challenged the ruler of a neighboring city to
a ritual ball game. According to Aztec legend, the out- comes of such ceremonial games could be
used to predict the future. In Montezuma's case, he had challenged the ruler of Texcoco to the
game to determine whether the Texcocan astrologers' pre- dictions of an imminent invasion were
true.
The Texcocan ruler had firmly trounced Montezuma.
The Spaniards
In the spring of 1519, Montezuma's fears were heightened by reports of floating "hills"
sighted off the eastern coast of his empire. He dispatched emissaries to confirm the reports, and
they returned with even more incredible stories of the floating hills. These hills, the emissaries
breathlessly reported, carried strange-looking tall, chalk- complexioned creatures with yellow
beards. The creatures even rode on the backs of giant deer, and had giant weapons that spit fire!
Today, of course, we know that the floating hills were Spanish ships, the creatures were
Spanish conquistadors under the command of Hernando Cortes, and the deer were horses. But the
reports filled Montezuma with dread. Could these creatures be the legendary god Quetzalcoatl
and his soldiers returning to Mexico as he had promised when he had been forced out of the
country 600 years ago? It was only logical that Quetzalcoatl would return this year, for it was the
year One Reed, or Ce Acatl. And Ce Acatl was one of the sacred names of Quetzalcoatl. Besides,
Quetzalcoatl had disappeared eastward and had promised to return from the east. If indeed
Quetzalcoatl was among the creatures, Montezuma had to welcome the triumphant god; or could
these creatures be the invaders that the astrologers had warned against? If so, Montezuma had to
unleash his mighty armies and drive the invaders into the sea.
Throughout the summer and fall, Cortes and his band of 600 conquistadors marched
relentlessly toward the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlán. Uncertain of the real identity of the
invaders, Montezuma sent lavish gifts, including the ceremonial cloaks of Quetzalcoatl and huge
plates of gold, to try to convince them to leave the empire. The gifts, however, only whetted the
Spaniards' unquenchable appetite for gold. At the same time, the emperor sent sorcerers to cast
spells, and guides to lead the strangers over hazardous routes in hopes that they would fall off the
sides of steep precipices.
The Spaniards in Tenochtitlan
All of Montezuma’s ploys failed, and the Spaniards neared the Aztec capital. Finally, on
November 8, 1519, the richly adorned Montezuma mounted a giant litter and went to greet the
Spaniards on the causeway leading into the imperial city. As the emperor neared the approaching
Spaniards, his large party of nobles stopped and bowed deeply as he descended from the litter.
Then, servants-their eyes cast downward, for it was a sin to look at the emperorscrambled to sweep the ground before him. Slowly, ever so slowly, the regal Montezuma
approached the Spaniards, welcomed them, and led them into his city.
Without fighting a single Aztec warrior, the Spaniards thus entered the most fabulous city
on earth. Giant pyramids, teeming marketplaces, and elaborate palaces loomed before the
Spaniards. Indeed, the city was far more magnificent than any European city of the time.
Conquest
Once inside the city, the Spaniards were again showered with gold. And the noble
Montezuma even allowed himself to be taken hostage, perhaps still uncertain whether his guests
were gods or humans.
For months an uneasy truce was maintained between the Aztecs and the Spaniards. Then,
when Cortes was out of the city, one of his men ordered the slaughter of hundreds of Aztecs
during a feast. Outraged, the Aztecs besieged the Spaniards in their palace. Although Cortes
persuaded Montezuma to address his people and order them to stop the siege, the Aztec emperor
no longer had his people's trust. They had seen how he allowed himself to be taken hostage and
considered him far too weak to lead the empire. When he appeared before them, the people first
jeered and then pelted him with stones, so injuring him that he soon died from his wounds.
Desperate, the Spaniards crept out of the city under cover of darkness. Although the
Aztecs discovered the flight and attacked, many of the Spaniards escaped and soon returned to
besiege the city. By 1521 the Spaniards had conquered the capital. The Aztec Empire was no
more.
Reasons for the Conquest
But how could a force of only a few hundred men defeat an empire with 15 million
subjects?
First, many of the people of the empire hated the harshness of their Aztec overlords. As a
result, they willingly allied themselves with the Spaniards to topple the Aztecs. Historians believe
that as many as 150,000 Indian allies helped the Spaniards besiege Tenochtitlán. Second,
Montezuma's indecisiveness certainly played a role. We can only speculate how history might
have been different had the emperor ordered the murder of the Spaniards when they first appeared
in the empire. Third, the Spaniards' weapons were far superior to those of the Aztecs.
Whatever the causes for the Aztec defeat, one thing is certain. The defeat spelled the end
of one of the most brilliant civilizations the world has ever known.