What was the result of Cortes's defeat of the Aztecs? Select all that apply

Answer 1

The defeat of the Aztecs by Hernán Cortés had several significant results, including:

1. Collapse of the Aztec Empire: The fall of Tenochtitlan marked the end of the Aztec Empire, leading to the establishment of Spanish colonial rule in Mexico.

2. Spanish Colonization: Spain expanded its territory in the Americas, and the region that was once part of the Aztec Empire became a vital part of the Spanish Empire, leading to further explorations and conquests in the Americas.

3. Cultural Interchange: The defeat led to significant cultural exchanges between the Spanish and the indigenous peoples, which included the introduction of European customs, religion (especially Christianity), and technologies.

4. Economic Exploitation: The Spanish began to exploit the resources of the region, including the extraction of precious metals like gold and silver, which fueled the Spanish economy and the European economy at large.

5. Population Decline: The conquest and subsequent colonization resulted in a dramatic decline in the Indigenous population due to warfare, enslavement, and the spread of European diseases to which the native populations had no immunity.

6. Creation of a Caste System: The Spanish established a social hierarchy that placed Spaniards at the top, with mestizos (people of mixed European and Indigenous ancestry) below them, and Indigenous peoples and enslaved individuals at the bottom.

7. Resistance and Revolts: The defeat and subsequent oppression led to uprisings and resistance movements among Indigenous peoples in the region.

These results had profound and lasting impacts on the social, cultural, and political dynamics of Mexico and the broader Americas.