Hernan Cortes
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Hernan Cortéss actions single handedly lead to the fall of the Aztec empire. His actions were lead by lust and the utter disrespect of the Aztec people and their culture. As a result of his actions he destroyed one of the most complex ancient civilizations.
Hernan Cortes showed disrespect to the Aztecs during his time in their land. Since the time-stepped foot into the Aztec society they did things that caused uncertainty within the Aztec society. For example, the Spaniards fired their cannons into the air causing the people in the city to scatter out of confusion and fear. Even causing them to stay up all night out of fear. Also during the Fiesta of Huitzilopochtli they showed disrespect to the people by trying to kill them and hurt them in various ways. These different things caused confusion in the Aztec society and started the downfall of the Aztec empire.
Another way Cortes caused the downfall of the Aztecs was his disrespect to Aztec culture. He changed the way the people conducted themselves and destroyed their values and beliefs they kept at the center of their lives. A great example of this is when Cortes ordered them to destroy their idols and change their beliefs to the Spanish belief (most likely catholic). This caused the chieftains in the society to lose confidence in the way Montezuma was going about giving the authority to Hernan Cortes. Another situation in which this happened was during the Fiesta of Huitzilopochtli. During this fiesta the Spaniards had an urge to kill the celebrants and pay no attention to their cultural values. They went on to kill the celebrants and the people of Tenochtitlan on that day. Thus causing great destruction to the empire and causing the downfall of the Aztec empire.
The final way Hernan Cortes destroyed the Aztec empire was through his lust. The main reason for the Spanish to come to the empire was for their riches especially gold, which was greatly desired by all Europeans. So to take the treasure they found in the Aztec empire, they slowly fit in with the people and developed a well-developed friendship and then they slowly changed the peoples way of thinking and at the end we see the damaged they caused. Causing one of the most developed ancient civilizations to crumble under the presence of Hernan Cortes.
Through these three points you can see how Cortes actions led to the fall of the Aztec empire. He did so by lust and disrespect of the Aztec people and their culture. They came for the riches of the Aztec empire and left the Aztec empire in total destruction and downfall.