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What contingent factors led to the conquest of the Aztec and Inca empires? How were the two stories similar and different?

User Lionel Tay
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Final answer:

The conquest of the Aztec and Inca empires was influenced by military tactics, internal conflicts, and the introduction of diseases like smallpox. The stories are similar in terms of the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors and the eventual defeat of the indigenous empires, but different in specific circumstances.

Step-by-step explanation:

The conquering of the Aztec and Inca empires was influenced by several contingent factors. One factor was the military tactics and weaponry of the Spanish conquistadors, who had steel armor, swords, and horses, giving them an advantage over the indigenous peoples who fought mainly with bows, arrows, and spears. Another factor was the internal conflicts and resentment among the native peoples, such as the Tlaxcalans, who allied with the Spanish against the Aztecs. Additionally, the inadvertent introduction of smallpox by the Spanish played a significant role in the downfall of both empires.

The stories of the conquest of the Aztec and Inca empires are similar in that both involved the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors and the eventual defeat of the indigenous empires. However, they are different in terms of the specific circumstances and events surrounding the conquest. The Aztec empire fell in 1521, while the Inca empire fell in 1533. The Aztecs faced Hernán Cortés and his men, while the Incas were conquered by Francisco Pizarro and his army. The role of indigenous allies and the impact of diseases like smallpox also differed between the two stories.

User Alex Dalyac
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