How did Hernán Cortés defeat the more numerous Aztec forces?

Hernán Cortés defeated the more numerous Aztec forces through strategic alliances, superior weaponry, and the spread of disease.

Hernán Cortés, a Spanish conquistador, arrived in Mexico in 1519 with a small force of about 500 men. Despite being vastly outnumbered by the Aztec Empire, Cortés managed to defeat them and bring about their downfall. One of the key strategies he employed was forming alliances with other indigenous groups who were enemies of the Aztecs. These alliances provided him with additional manpower and local knowledge, which were crucial in his campaign against the Aztecs.

Cortés also had the advantage of superior weaponry. The Spanish had steel swords, crossbows, and firearms, including cannons, which were far more advanced than the stone and wooden weapons of the Aztecs. The Spanish also had horses, which were unknown in the Americas at the time. These gave them a significant advantage in battle, allowing them to move quickly and strike with force. The psychological impact of these unfamiliar weapons and animals should not be underestimated.

However, perhaps the most devastating weapon Cortés had at his disposal was not a weapon at all, but disease. Smallpox, a disease brought to the Americas by the Europeans, ravaged the Aztec population. The Aztecs had no immunity to this new disease, and it killed a significant portion of their population, including many of their warriors and their emperor, Cuitláhuac. This severely weakened the Aztec Empire and made it easier for Cortés and his forces to conquer them.

In addition, Cortés exploited the political and religious structures of the Aztec Empire. He manipulated Moctezuma II, the Aztec emperor, by playing on his beliefs and fears about the return of the god Quetzalcoatl. This allowed Cortés to gain a foothold in the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlán, and ultimately led to Moctezuma's death and the fall of the city.

In conclusion, Cortés' victory over the Aztecs was not due to a single factor, but a combination of strategic alliances, superior weaponry, the spread of disease, and the exploitation of Aztec beliefs and political structures.