The Aztecs, who many ignorantly call savage, had been fighting their "Flower Wars" for a couple hundred years before the Spanish even arrived. The "Flower Wars" were wars conducted mainly for the purpose of the daily need for human sacrifices and the greed for more tribute of neighboring tribes. (Human sacrifices were drugged before being sacrificed by the way).
When Cortes came to Mexico in 1519 with a few hundred soldiers and a pretty big ego, he was quick to recognize the obvious primitivity of the Aztecs' beliefs and weoponry. The Aztecs lacked any beasts of burden capable of being ridden upon such as horses, etc. (Llamas weren't much of a help. Llamas no eran mucho productivo para los aztecas).
The Aztecs were terrified of the Spanish stallions and would not approach any mounted Spaniard at first. Also, the Aztecs had virtually no natural resources that matched what the Spanish had (coal, iron, etc.) Therefore, they had no steel weopons that could match the superior steel swords from Toledo and their muskets.
In response to an earlier post: Technically Cortes was a 'criminal' because Diego Velazquez, the governor of Cuba, did not permit Cortez to leave since he was Wanted in Cuba. Cortes left anyway and enganged in more 'criminal' activity in Mexico, such as keeping the gifts and spoils from the Aztecs for himself.
Anyway, it is a misconception to how big of a role the idea of the Aztecs thinking Cortes was Quetzalcoatl played in the conquest of Mexico. A few gullible messesngers sent by Montezuma believed he was a god and the deeply religious king was also a believer that it was Quetzalcoatl on account of his prophesier. The actual Aztec warriors were astonished by the new beasts (horses) and steel weapons, but they knew he was a mortal.
As far as the indios allied with Cortes, Tlaxcalans (I think that's right), they played more of a role in informing Cortes about the Aztecs' battle tactics and guiding them through the unknown Aztec territory. They did fight in the skirmishes and battles against their hated enemy, but their overwhelming numbers were more of a help to Cortes than their strength.
Many think Montezuma was the last Aztec king, but Cuatemoc was actually the last. Montezuma was killed in Tenochtitlan, and then the Jaguar warrior/cult appointed someone else who was also killed. Then Cuatemoc was appointed. The Spanish arrested him for trying to start more revolutions later in 1521, but they finally had to execute him.
When Cortes came to Mexico in 1519 with a few hundred soldiers and a pretty big ego, he was quick to recognize the obvious primitivity of the Aztecs' beliefs and weoponry. The Aztecs lacked any beasts of burden capable of being ridden upon such as horses, etc. (Llamas weren't much of a help. Llamas no eran mucho productivo para los aztecas).
The Aztecs were terrified of the Spanish stallions and would not approach any mounted Spaniard at first. Also, the Aztecs had virtually no natural resources that matched what the Spanish had (coal, iron, etc.) Therefore, they had no steel weopons that could match the superior steel swords from Toledo and their muskets. In response to an earlier post: Technically Cortes was a 'criminal' because Diego Velazquez, the governor of Cuba, did not permit Cortez to leave since he was Wanted in Cuba. Cortes left anyway and enganged in more 'criminal' activity in Mexico, such as keeping the gifts and spoils from the Aztecs for himself.
Anyway, it is a misconception to how big of a role the idea of the Aztecs thinking Cortes was Quetzalcoatl played in the conquest of Mexico. A few gullible messesngers sent by Montezuma believed he was a god and the deeply religious king was also a believer that it was Quetzalcoatl on account of his prophesier. The actual Aztec warriors were astonished by the new beasts (horses) and steel weapons, but they knew he was a mortal.
As far as the indios allied with Cortes, Tlaxcalans (I think that's right), they played more of a role in informing Cortes about the Aztecs' battle tactics and guiding them through the unknown Aztec territory. They did fight in the skirmishes and battles against their hated enemy, but their overwhelming numbers were more of a help to Cortes than their strength.
Many think Montezuma was the last Aztec king, but Cuatemoc was actually the last. Montezuma was killed in Tenochtitlan, and then the Jaguar warrior/cult appointed someone else who was also killed. Then Cuatemoc was appointed. The Spanish arrested him for trying to start more revolutions later in 1521, but they finally had to execute him.
