Discuss the Relative Importance of Military, Religious and Political Factors in the Rapid Spanish Conquest of Mexico

On 13 August 1521 the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan, had fallen to the Spanish conquistadors. Cortes and his followers had only landed in Mexico in April 1519. By the time of Cortes’ last departure form Spain in 1540; Mexico City had become a powerful colonial metropolis, the capital of a Spanish territory extending south into Central America and North to or beyond the Gulf of California. The campaign waged by Cortes was so successful that all ensuing campaigns were modelled upon the Aztec conquest. The question posed is how was the conquest of Mexico achieved in such a small space of time? It would seem unfeasible that a small army of soldiers could overcome thousands of Native Americans on their own soil; Tenochtitlan was a perfect location to offer resistance to the Spanish, as a great lake surrounded it. There are several combined factors that led to a sweeping conquest of Mexico of which I shall discuss, and in particular compare those of Military, Religious and!

The Aztecs had massive populations, strong empires, kingdoms and warlike traditions. With only a few hundred men, Cor

The Mexica seemed to be hindered by their religion. Their religious views of warfare inhibited their actions in certain ways. Preoccupations with human sacrifice caused them to seek captives rather than corpses. Also their liturgical traditions, which insisted that operations be prefaced by elaborate ceremonies only served to alert the Spaniards of attack. The Aztecs were perhaps weakened psychologically through their traditions, such as their fear of cavalry and gunfire.

wns on the Gulf of Mexico. Hence it is clear that for many native peoples in the region of Veracruz, where the first conquering Spanish landed, invasion was not so unusual. This may fare well to explain the ease with which Cortes and his men established their mainland foothold.

Religion certainly played a major part in the Conquest of Mexico. However it’s actual impact on the rapidity of the conquest, especially in the early stages, is limited. On the side of the Native Americans, their religious beliefs proved to be at their own disadvantage. For the Spaniards, their devotion to Catholicism provided a plausible excuse for the crusade. As well as the search for gold and silver, the Spaniards held a religious mission, without which Spanish expansion may have not been so conceivable, or at least taken a different form. The discovery and conquest of America was spirited by missionary expansion and sustained throughout by Church resources. Spain had of course the first reformed Church in Europe. The experience of the Moors and infidel in the Peninsula itself is an example of her intolerance and anxiety to extend the faith. Thus Spain had the confidence and the personnel to play this vital role in colonial expansion.

Cortes himself appears to exercise the use of Mexican politics expertly. Another important factor in the swiftness of the conquest was leadership. Cortes’ army was never large. He arrived in 1519 with approximately 550 men and 16 horses. Cortes’ military experience, expertise and driving force came into play. There is evidence that he learnt quickly, such as exploiting the hatred of the Tlaxcalans for the Aztecs and to recruit allies from within Indian society itself. We have good examples of this such as when Cortes first arrived on the Mexican Coast and began to move inland. At a number of points along the route, notably at the province of Tlaxcala, Cortes formed alliances with native peoples who were enemies of the Aztecs or disaffected under their control. Consequently at Cholula, where Montezuma’s forces planned an ambush, opposing natives forewarned Cortes. The resulting slaughter of Montezuma’s men brought more on the Spanish side. As a!

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