Question

After the city had fallen, what did the Aztecs do?

A) Flee to nearby regions.
B) Surrender and become subjects.
C) Resist through guerrilla warfare.
D) Adapt to the new rule.

Answer 1

After Tenochtitlán fell, the Aztecs surrendered and became subjects of the Spanish. They had to adapt to new rule with conversion efforts to Christianity, and saw their capital city transformed into Mexico City, the center of New Spain.

Step-by-step explanation:

After the city of Tenochtitlán had fallen, the Aztecs primarily surrendered and became subjects under the rule of the Spanish. The Spanish, led by Hernán Cortés and their indigenous allies, sacked the Aztec capital and accepted the surrender of the remaining native warriors on August 21, 1521. Following the victory, the Spanish began efforts to convert the Aztecs to Christianity, destroyed Aztec temples, built Catholic churches atop them, and renamed Tenochtitlán as Mexico City, making it the capital of the colony of New Spain. The defeat was so thorough that the Spanish eventually leveled the city, executing Moctezuma, the Aztec ruler, and leaving few Aztec ruins. As new subjects, the Aztecs eventually had to adapt to the new rule, although the transition also involved acts of resistance and attempts to preserve elements of their culture and society.