In around the 1500's a man named Hernan Cortes invaded the Aztecs in Central America (what most know now as Mexico) in search for gold.
The Aztecs were strong and powerful people. They were one of the few tribes who had discovered the aqueduct in their time, and one of the most hygienic tribes. Some of the people were known to wash twice a day in baths with water flowing directly from the aqueducts.
Even though they seemed civilized in this matter, they did rather uncivil things that led to the Aztec Empire falling only after around 200 years!
The Aztecs were strong and powerful people. They were one of the few tribes who had discovered the aqueduct in their time, and one of the most hygienic tribes. Some of the people were known to wash twice a day in baths with water flowing directly from the aqueducts.
Even though they seemed civilized in this matter, they did rather uncivil things that led to the Aztec Empire falling only after around 200 years!
Some of the main reasons the Aztecs fell were due to the fact they had many enemies they used brutal force against neighboring tribes like harsh punishments and sacrifices of their people. They killed around 7000 people a year just for sacrifices for Gods. Another reason they fell was due to the fact that they did not have the weapons the Spanish carried like guns and horse ships. These things Cortes used to his advantage when taking over their tribe in search of gold.
Even though they were tough to bring down because of their numbers Cortes easily turned people against the Aztecs. When the Aztecs fought back they caught disease like smallpox which killed thousands of people.
The Indians that survived after the invasion were forced into manual labor of harvesting silver which was in most abundance in mexico in horrible conditions.
The Spanish destroyed the empire and built up Christianity over the once powerful Aztec Empire.
Even though they were tough to bring down because of their numbers Cortes easily turned people against the Aztecs. When the Aztecs fought back they caught disease like smallpox which killed thousands of people.
The Indians that survived after the invasion were forced into manual labor of harvesting silver which was in most abundance in mexico in horrible conditions.
The Spanish destroyed the empire and built up Christianity over the once powerful Aztec Empire.
Primary Source No. 2
This Aztec prayer symbolises the bonds between people in life, that could not even be broken by the honour that came from death, or in sacrifice and battle. It expresses the unbreakable connection between the Aztecs and how strong that bond was.
The words captured the loss and the grief that the Aztecs felt when the Empire fell to, Spanish Conquistador
Cortés. These feelings are shown in this poem composed by an Aztec poet in the mid 1520s.
Nothing but flowers and songs of sorrow
are left in Mexico and Tlatelolco,
where once we saw warriors and wise men.
We know it is true
that we must perish,
for we are mortal men.
You, the Giver of Life,
you have ordained it.
We wander here and there
in our desolate poverty.
We are mortal men.
We have seen bloodshed and pain
where once we saw beauty and valor.
We are crushed to the ground;
we lie in ruins.
There is nothing but grief and suffering
in Mexico and Tlatelolco,
where once we saw beauty and valor.
Have you grown weary of your servants?
Are you angry with your servants,
O Giver of Life?