Page 47 - All About History - Issue 19-14

What if…

THE AZTECS HADN’T BEEN CONQUERED?

impact of epidemic disease and repeated invasions
would have destroyed the Aztec Empire by the end 2. Revenge mission to Totonac
of the decade. However, let us imagine the Aztecs Aztec actions afte Disgusted at their attempt to assist the
Spanish, the Aztecs deliver swift justice to
survive such attacks, borrow Spanish technology, beating Cortés the Totonac and Tlaxcala peoples. Pillaging
and maintain their empire through the 16th century. and looting across the land, the enemy
states of the Aztecs are put to ruin.
That would have drawn intense interest from other
European powers, such as the English. It might seem
like a stretch to imagine the English conquering the 4. European return
Aztecs in the 17th century. But then consider that In the years after Cortés’s initial
the English (later British) did establish a considerable expedition, several Spanish forces land
and attempt to succeed where he failed.
empire in regions to the north, east and south of what They are defeated, but as other imperial
had been Aztec Mexico. Furthermore, the heirs to part nations and Old World diseases take hold,
the Aztec Empire begins to struggle.
of the empire – the United States – conquered and
permanently acquired half of the nation that was the
heir to Aztec Mexico. AZTEC EMPIRE
Cowie: Failure to conquer the Aztecs (and
subsequently the Incas) would have had serious
implications for Spain, which came to rely on
American silver to finance its military campaigns
in Europe. Within the context of the Reformation 1. Rebuilding of Tenochtitlan
and the religious wars then raging in the Old World, After the Spanish are beaten back and
it would also have had a significant impact on the Cortés is killed, the Aztecs rebuild their
capital city, making it more formidable
global spread of Catholicism. to future enemy sieges. The captured 3. The trip south
conquistador weapons are put to good Buoyed by their resistance to
use as the civilisation advances. the Spanish and their new-found
How might we look at the Aztec civilisation European technology, the Aztecs
differently today? expand their empire south and
eastward into Mayan territory
Restall: The fact the Aztec Empire collapsed after and toward the Inca Empire.
two years of warfare has certainly influenced how
we see the Aztecs. The Spaniards justified their
invasion and colonisation of the region by portraying the much more about life in the Aztec world and see it in less Have your say
Aztec civilisation as barbarian and bloody. In particular, they stereotypical terms.
emphasized the Aztec practice of human sacrifice – even Cowie: This is very difficult to say; it depends to a Do you agree with our
though the Spanish, English, and other Europeans also held considerable degree upon whether the Aztecs were expert’s view?
public executions for political and religious reasons – and subsequently conquered by another Spanish expedition or /AllAboutHistory
wrongly accused the Aztecs of practising cannibalism. whether they remained independent into the 19th century,
Although we now have a complex and more balanced when they would likely have become victims of a later wave @AboutHistoryMag
understanding of the Aztecs’ past, the negative stereotypes of European imperialism. Either way, it is likely the negative
propagated by the Spaniards have survived in the popular images of human sacrifice would endure, assuming that at
imagination. But had the Aztecs survived the Spanish least some of the conquistadors survived to communicate
invasions of 1519 to 1521, especially if their empire had lasted them, but we might perhaps have greater respect for the
long enough to establish alliances or diplomatic relationships Aztecs’ military capability and realise the conquest was a
with other European powers, we would probably now know close-run thing.

O Battle of Cempoala O La Noche Triste O Tenochtitlán falls O Birth of Mexico City
Cortés and his forces The two forces assault A combination of Tenochtitlán is rebuilt
briefly leave Tenochtitlán the Aztecs but are driven smallpox, horses and as Mexico City, the
to fight, and eventually back despite the death of Spanish steel defeat new capital of New
defeat, fellow Spaniard Moctezuma. This escape from Tenochtitlán after a Spain. Cuauhetemoc
Diego Velázquez, an old Tenochtitlán results in many three-month siege serves as a puppet
enemy of Cortés. Spanish deaths. as the population is ruler before his
April 1520 July 1520 routed. August 1521 execution. 1522

O Death of Cortés O Cortés allies with Tlazcala O Religious changes O Spread of smallpox O Further expeditions O Death of Cortés
Immediately wary of the Old The Spanish ally with the With Mexico still This Old World disease Further Spanish Hernan Cortés dies
World invaders, Moctezuma sworn enemy of the Aztecs, resisting invasion, the is brought over by the excursions, along with at the age of 62. The
instructs a full-on attack on the Tlaxcala. They want spread of Catholicism European raiders and the introduction of conqueror of the Aztecs,
the Spanish. Surprised and their civilisation to crumble is halted while becomes an epidemic, Old World diseases, he is remembered as a
overwhelmed, Cortés is killed as much as Cortés desires traditional Aztec wiping out swathes of the gradually wears down great explorer but also
and his forces scattered. gold and riches. religion and culture Aztec population. the civilisation. as a man of greed.
8 November 1519 July 1520 flourishes. June 1525 August 1520 1640 1567

O New technology O Financial effects on O Destruction of Tlaxcala O Cancellation of O Further advancements O Fall of the Aztecs
Using trial and error and the Old World As punishment for allying Pizarro conquest Having mastered steel, After repeated
interrogating Spanish Having no Aztec gold with the Spanish, the The planned occupation the Aztecs incorporate Spanish invasions,
prisoners, the Aztecs to speak of, Spain Tlaxcalans are completely of Peru and the Inca other Western continuing disease
gain the knowledge of struggles financially and massacred, ensuring they Empire is cancelled, technology into their and even French and
horse riding, making thus modernises at a will never trouble the as the Spanish cannot military such as musket British involvement, © Illustration by Ian Hinley
steel weapons and using slower rate. Aztecs again. afford it. and cannon. the Aztecs fall.
guns. January 1520 February 1520 April 1520 1532 1781 1819

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