Anthony Chu
8A History
“How can we save our homes, my people?
The Aztecs are deserting the city
The city is in flames and allis darkness and destruction
Weep my people
Know that with these disasters
We have lost the Mexican nation
The water has turned bitter
Our food is bitter
These are the acts of the Giver of Life”.
From the Informantes Anónimos de Tlatelolco, compiled in 1521
Section 2
“The Conquistadors left an indelible scar on the native cultures of the Americas.”
According to this statement, the native culture of the Aztecs was permanently marred by the Spanish conquest. While this is true in terms of the massive population decreaseof natives and the destruction of Aztec history, it fails to mention how the Spanish profited from their invasion.
Evidence of the mostly irreversible impact made upon the Americas can be seen in two main sources: the population decrease of the natives and what is now known as the ‘Columbian Exchange’.
The Aztec culture was almost completely destroyed by the Conquistadors. While much of their literary, mythological, architectural and social history was also destroyed, as a people the Aztecs were almost wiped out. Evidence of this is seen in the handout provided at the beginning of the term. From one of the diagrams, the percentage decrease of the Aztec population can be clearly seen to be monumental. While in a few exceptions populations actually increased, the majority were reduced to less than a tenth of their previous population. The expansion of some regions was due to the relocation of fugitives from said areas. The wholesale slaughter of the Aztecs was ‘justified’ by Cortes in a letter to Charles V of Spain: ‘You are aware that in order to do service to his Majesty, the Emperor, we came to settle in this land…for which we have on our side just cause and reason: first we are fighting to spread the faith against a barbarous people; second we are serving his Majesty; third we have to secure our very existence.’As evidence of the massacre(s) committed by the Spanish, an actual event can be is proof. When told that the Cholulans were plotting to kill him, he arranged a meeting with their leaders.Opening fire upon the unarmed and defenceless Cholulans, it is believed that up to 3000 were slain. Within 75 years of Cortes’ landing, the native population of 25,000,000 people was reduced to just one million.
The culture of the Aztecs in the form of their art was also ravaged by the conquest. Codices, temple motifs, sculptures, skull racks and architectural marvels were destroyed as they were “demonstrations of superstitious idolatry.” The first Archbishop of Mexico burned countless codices for this reason, as did other bishops across the country. The Christian influence of the Conquistadors led to natives Americans destroying records of their own history. While some codices were reproduced (by Spanish artists) under the command of King Phillip II, the majority of these books were destroyed by the Holy Office of Inquisition. Thus, the Spanish conquest, and their religious influence, led to the devastation of Aztec history.
The Columbian Exchange
The Columbian Exchange is a term used to refer to the multiple exchanges of diseases, livestock, foods and technology between the Aztecs and their Spanish invaders. A list of objects exchanged is shown below, sourced from GeorgetownCollege.
From this table, it can be seen that while the bountiful New World imparted far more plants, the Old World exchanged an incredible amount of diseases. As the Aztecs had never suffered from their like, they were extremely susceptible, and their lack of immunity against said diseases also led to their downfall.
While the native tribes were desolated, the Spaniards reaped rich rewards, from cacao (chocolate), tobacco, corn and potatoes. They also succeeded in assuming command of the gold and silver mines scattered across the Americas. Thousands of natives were forced to work for a living at these haciendas, and within five centuries, natives had almost no possession of land. In fact, the Conquistadors having control over the New World led to Spain becoming the most powerful nation in the world in their time. Even now, the natives struggle to earn a living.
The permanent repercussions of the Conquest of the Aztecs can still be felt today. Now, foods like corn and chocolate that previously only existed within Mesoamerica have spread to almost every corner of the globe. The culture of the Aztecs was irreversibly scarred by the invasion, and even after 500 years, the Spanish are still dominant.
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