Question

What helped the Spanish conquer the Aztec civilization?

The Spanish exploited the resentment of the peoples conquered by the Aztecs.


The Spanish allied themselves with the Mayans who often fought with the Aztecs.


The Spanish allied themselves with the English and the French and overwhelmed the Aztec defenses.


The Spanish exploited Montezuma II's greed and offered him riches to undermine Aztec defenses

Answer 1

The best answer is the first: the Spanish exploited the resentment of peoples conquered by the Aztecs.

Brief explanation:
- Cortés made crucial alliances with subject peoples (most famously the Tlaxcalans, also Totonacs and others) who hated Aztec domination and supplied thousands of warriors, local knowledge, and logistical support.
- Other major factors: superior steel weapons and horses, firearms and cannons, Spanish tactics, and especially Old World diseases (smallpox) that devastated the Aztec population and leadership.

Why the other choices are incorrect:
- The Spanish did not primarily ally with the Maya to conquer Tenochtitlan; the Maya were a different region/people and were not the main allies in the fall of the Aztec capital.
- The English and French were not involved in the conquest of the Aztecs.
- Saying the Spanish “exploited Montezuma’s greed” is misleading — Cortés used diplomacy, coercion and eventually took Montezuma hostage and demanded tribute; it wasn’t simply offering riches to undermine defenses.