Final answer:
Cortés was able to conquer the Mexica with a small force of Spanish conquistadores due to superior military tactics and weaponry, alliances with tribes previously oppressed by the Aztec Empire, and the inadvertent introduction of smallpox.
Step-by-step explanation:
The various factors that enabled Cortés to conquer the Mexica with such a small force of Spanish conquistadores are:
- The superior military tactics and weaponry of the Spanish, such as steel armor, swords, and horseback attacks, which gave them an advantage over the Mexica forces who relied on bows and arrows and spears.
- The alliance formed by Cortés with tribes previously forced to pay tribute to the Aztec Empire, such as the Totonacs, who greeted the Spanish as liberators and joined them in the fight against the Aztecs.
- The inadvertent introduction of smallpox by the Spanish, which had a devastating effect on the Mexica population, leading to thousands of deaths and weakening their resistance.