Final answer:
The relationship between the Mexica and the Spanish changed over time as the Spanish gained more power and eventually subjugated the Mexica people. Factors like military tactics and weaponry, the introduction of smallpox, and support from indigenous tribes influenced this change.
Step-by-step explanation:
The relationship between the Mexica and the Spanish changed over time, particularly during the period of Spanish conquest in the early 16th century. Initially, the Mexica people allied themselves with the Spanish, such as the Tlaxcalan group, who provided fighters in the siege of Tenochtitlán. However, as the Spanish gained more power, the relationship became more strained and eventually turned into a subjugation of the Mexica people by the Spanish.
One key factor in the change of the relationship was the military tactics and weaponry of the Spanish. The Spanish had superior armor, weapons, and military tactics, while the Mexica primarily fought with bows, arrows, and spears. Smallpox, inadvertently introduced by the Spanish, also played a significant role in the decline of the Mexica population, contributing to their ultimate defeat.
In addition, the Spanish found support from indigenous tribes who were previously forced to pay tribute to the Aztec Empire, such as the Totonacs who greeted the Spanish as liberators. The Spanish exploited the weaknesses and internal conflicts within the region, eventually establishing a Spanish-centered order on top of the old Aztec state.