Question

Sarreo's conquest of the Inca Empire was made easy by which of the following factors: the massive army he had brought, a smallpox epidemic that had devastated the Inca, the relatively small size of the Inca Empire, or the language barrier between the Spanish and the Inca?

Answer 1

The Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire was largely facilitated by a smallpox epidemic that devastated the Inca population, a civil war over the succession to the throne, and the superior military tactics and technology of the Spaniards.

Step-by-step explanation:

The conquest of the Inca Empire by Francisco Pizarro was facilitated not by a massive army but by other factors, including the smallpox epidemic that had devastated the Inca population. Prior to Pizarro's arrival, smallpox had already claimed the life of the Inca Emperor Wayna Qhapaq in 1528 and had caused widespread social chaos and devastation. The Spanish also took advantage of the ongoing civil war between the sons of the late emperor about the succession to the throne. These internal conflicts and the demographic collapse due to disease allowed Pizarro's much smaller force to seize control. Furthermore, the Spanish found allies among disgruntled Inca subjects and used superior military tactics and technology to their advantage, aiding in the subjugation of the Inca people and the eventual fall of their empire in 1535.