In 1519, Hernán Cortés, a Spanish conquistador, led an expedition to the New World with a small but determined force of men. His arrival in Tenochtitlán in 1521 marked the beginning of a tragic and transformative series of events for the Aztec people. Initially received warmly by the Aztec emperor, Moctezuma II, under the mistaken belief that Cortés and his men were gods or emissaries from the gods, the Spanish soon found themselves in a precarious position. The relationship deteriorated rapidly, leading to conflict, the capture and execution of Aztec leaders, and ultimately, the siege and fall of Tenochtitlán.
However, the conquest also had profound moral and philosophical implications. The treatment of the indigenous populations raised questions about the rights of peoples, the legitimacy of conquest, and the responsibilities of imperial powers. These debates influenced the development of international law and human rights, shaping European thought on the treatment of non-Europeans.
Several factors contributed to the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire. The strategic alliance between Cortés and local tribes who were subjugated by the Aztecs, such as the Tlaxcalans, provided crucial military support. The devastating effects of European diseases, like smallpox, to which the indigenous populations had no immunity, decimated the Aztec population and undermined their ability to resist. The technological superiority of the Spanish, particularly their armor, guns, and horses, gave them a significant military advantage.