Why is Spanish colonization important?

Why is Spanish colonization important?

Spanish colonial missions in North America are significant because so many were established and they had lasting effects on the cultural landscape. The Spanish missions, like forts and towns, were frontier institutions that pioneered European colonial claims and sovereignty in North America.

What factors helped the Spanish defeat the Aztecs?

  • Superior Weapons. Spanish weaponry was far superior to anything used by the Aztecs or Incas.
  • Alliances and Experience. The invading Spanish forces also took advantage of internal divisions within the Aztec and Inca empires.
  • The Power of Horses.
  • Deadly Disease.

What did the Spanish do to Tenochtitlan?

Spanish conquistadores commanded by Hernán Cortés allied with local tribes to conquer the Aztec capital city of Tenochtitlán. Cortés’s army besieged Tenochtitlán for 93 days, and a combination of superior weaponry and a devastating smallpox outbreak enabled the Spanish to conquer the city.

What did the Spanish bring to the Aztecs?

The Spanish had a positive effect on Aztec civilization because they helped modernize the society. They introduced the Aztecs to domestic animals, sugar, grains, and European farming practices. Most significantly, the Spanish ended the Aztec’s practice of human sacrifice.

What were the main factors that led to the Spanish defeat of the Aztecs?

Terms in this set (8)

  • Superior Weapons. the Spanish had superior weapons – steel swords armour and guns compared to the Aztec wooden swords.
  • Horses. gave the Spanish greater speed, mobility and height in battles.
  • Allies.
  • Religion.
  • Weak leader.
  • Attitudes towards war.
  • Lack of preparation.
  • Smallpox.

What technology and knowledge did the Spanish need to defeat the Aztecs?

Hernan Cortes was able to conquer the Aztec Empire by scaring the natives with the 16 horses, gaining alliances with the other enemies of the Aztec, having superior and better weapons than the natives (like guns), having armor, and having steel. What advantages did the Spanish have over the Native Americans?

What bad things did the Aztecs do?

The Aztecs were severely weakened by diseases that the Spanish brought such as smallpox, influenza, and malaria. Over time, around 80 percent of the people living in the Valley of Mexico died from these diseases. Cortés founded Mexico City on the ruins of Tenochtitlan.

What weapons did the Spanish use against the Aztecs?

Aztec warriors, who were taught from childhood in weapons handling, were expert users of clubs, bows, spears, and darts. Protection from the enemy was provided via round shields (chimalli) and, more rarely, helmets. Clubs or swords (macuahuitl) were studded with fragile but super-sharp obsidian blades.

What was the impact of Spanish colonization?

Positive effects Spain’s purposes to colonize Mexico and the other colonies were getting new land, resources, and to spread Christianity. As they conquered Mexico, they got new land. Spain plundered lots of resources from their colonies, opened up trade and get profits and spread Christianity.

What were some of the biggest advantages the Spanish had over the Aztecs?

The advantages that the Spanish had over the Aztec were 16 horses, guns, armor, formed alliances, and diseases, steel.

Why did the Spanish import slaves from Africa?

To meet the mounting demand for labor in mining and agriculture, the Spanish began to exploit a new labor force: slaves from western Africa. Slavery was a familiar institution to many sixteenth-century Europeans.