Tensions rise between Spanish and Aztecs from "summary" of The Conquest of Mexico by William Hickling Prescott
The increasing contact between the Spanish conquistadors and the Aztec Empire led to a gradual escalation of tensions between the two parties. Initially, the Aztecs welcomed the Spanish as guests, believing them to be representatives of the feathered serpent god Quetzalcoatl. However, as the Spanish began to assert their dominance and exploit the resources of the land, the Aztecs grew wary of their intentions. The Spanish, under the leadership of Hernan Cortes, were driven by a desire for wealth and power. They saw the Aztec Empire as a potential source of riches, and they were determined to conquer and subjugate the native population. The Aztecs, on the other hand, were proud and fiercely independent, unwilling to bow down to foreign invaders. As the Spanish presence in the region grew, so too did the resentment and hostility of the Aztecs. Cortes and his men engaged in brutal tactics, including the massacre of civilians and the destruction of sacred sites. These actions only served to further alienate the Aztec people and drive a wedge between them and their Spanish occupiers. The Aztecs, under the leadership of Emperor Montezuma, attempted to appease the Spanish by offering them gifts of gold and silver. However, these efforts were in vain, as the Spanish saw them as a sign of weakness and pressed their advantage even further. The Aztecs soon realized that the Spanish were not there as friends, but as conquerors intent on imposing their will upon them.- While the Aztecs viewed the Spanish as invaders to be repelled at all costs. This clash of cultures and ideologies would ultimately culminate in a violent and bloody conflict that would forever alter the course of history.
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