Why do people Blame the Spanish for the fall of the Aztecs?

Question

Sure it was Cortez who influenced the natives. But ultimately it was the natives who brought down the oppressive Aztec society. Cortez just provided them leadership and courage to take down the barbaric Aztecs.

I think people like to blame Cortez because he got rich from it. But getting rich from war is a tradition as old as war itself.

Answer 1

Your reasoning would make sense if the natives who revolted against the Aztecs and joined with Cortez were well-treated after the fall of Tenochtitlan and the death of Motecuzoma. But they weren't. They were forcibly converted to Christianity, enslaved, killed as heretics, their culture and religion destroyed, and those that survived all that died of old-world diseases they had no immunity to.

Answer 2

First of all, they called themselves the Mexica, not Aztecs. Cortes did not "influence" the Mexica, he brought them to heel by brute force. The Spanish explorers and clergy then went on to enslave and force Catholicism on all the peoples of "The One World". Those who would not readily comply were slaughtered. Sure, Moctezuma was a horrible leader and his errors and indecision ultimately lead to Cortes' victory but, they had a very advanced civilization and many great revered speakers before Moctezuma.

People blame the Spanish because they were as brutal and thorough at wiping out indigenous cultures as were the British (later Americans) in what is now the U.S.A.

Answer 3

Because they caused the downfall.

They slaughtered 1000s of people. Sure, the Aztecs had opposition, and Cortez used that to his advantage.

Answer 4

yeah! cortez also bring down culture, something people desnt seem to care or know about enough, also he carried a lot of deseases and they were the real conquerors of our ancestors.

second thing, they were called Mexicatl, not Aztecs, the fact that they are called Aztecs is an historical error of spanish people who had the hell of trouble to spell our native language, of course they didnt care, more or less like certain Us citizen who cant speak spanish, but they dont care

Answer 5

because it was their doing and fault and not pretty or nice at all.
its not because he got rich. that is silly. who told you that?
read some facts ,dear. from several sources to make an informed decision..

http://ntap.k12.ca.us/whs/projects/history/cortez.html

Answer 6

Weren't the Aztec and the Mayan destroyed mainly by prolonged droughts.
http://www.ausbcomp.com/redman/Aztec_Ruins.htm

http://www.ausbcomp.com/redman/Aztec_Ruins.htm
news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/03/0313_030313_mayadrought.html

http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F20E13FF3D5D0C728CDDAF0894DD494D81

Answer 7

barbaric?
Yes I agree--your logic is barbaric.

Answer 8

You is right, brotha!