The Spanish conquistadors had three advantages over the Incas: superior weaponry such as guns and cannons, a highly organized military strategy, and the assistance of native allies who opposed the Inca Empire and supported the Spanish conquest.
Those that desire to receive further information
The Spanish conquistadors possessed three significant advantages over the Incas during their conquest: superior weaponry, a highly organized military strategy, and the support of native allies who opposed the Inca Empire.
-
Superior weaponry: One of the key advantages that the Spanish conquistadors had over the Incas was their superior weaponry. The Spanish were armed with advanced weapons such as guns and cannons, which the Incas had never encountered before. This technological gap allowed the Spanish to overpower the Incas during battles. As Francisco de Jerez, a member of Hernando Cortés’ expedition, noted: “With only 15 horsemen and several hundred foot soldiers with muskets and crossbows, we defeated an army of 300,000 men” (quote taken from personal memoirs).
-
Highly organized military strategy: The Spanish conquistadors employed a highly organized military strategy, which played a crucial role in their success against the Incas. They utilized tactics such as surprise attacks, the element of fear, and strategic positioning. The Spanish also exploited divisions within the Inca Empire, taking advantage of internal conflicts and rivalries. They strategically targeted key Inca leaders and used psychological warfare to demoralize the Inca forces.
-
Support of native allies: The Spanish conquistadors received assistance from native allies who opposed the Inca Empire. Many indigenous groups had grievances against the Incas and saw the arrival of the Spanish as an opportunity to overthrow their Inca rulers. These native allies played a significant role in the conquest by providing crucial intelligence, acting as translators, and joining the Spanish troops in battle. The presence of native allies weakened the unity of the Inca Empire. As the Spanish chronicler, Garcilaso de la Vega, wrote: “In our favor, the internal divisions of the Indians contributed not a little to the conquest of the empire” (quote from “Royal Commentaries of the Incas”).
Interesting facts related to the Spanish conquest of the Incas:
-
Pizarro’s capture of Atahualpa: In 1532, Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro arranged a meeting with Atahualpa, the last Inca emperor, in the city of Cajamarca. Pizarro lured Atahualpa into a trap, capturing him and holding him hostage. The capture of Atahualpa severely weakened the Inca resistance.
-
Smallpox epidemic: The Spanish unwittingly brought diseases such as smallpox to the Inca Empire, leading to a devastating epidemic. The Incas, having no immunity to these diseases, suffered catastrophic losses, further aiding the Spanish conquest.
-
The betrayal of Huáscar and Atahualpa: The Inca Empire was embroiled in a civil war between Atahualpa and his half-brother Huáscar. This internal conflict weakened the empire and divided loyalties among the Inca nobility, facilitating the Spanish conquest.
Table: Impact of Spanish advantages over the Incas
| Advantage | Description |
|---|---|
| Superior weaponry | The Spanish possessed advanced weapons such as guns and cannons, giving them a significant technological advantage. |
| Highly organized military strategy | The Spanish utilized tactics like surprise attacks, psychological warfare, and strategic positioning to overcome the Inca forces. |
| Support of native allies | Indigenous groups who opposed the Incas provided assistance to the Spanish through intelligence, translation, and participating in battles. |
In conclusion, the Spanish conquistadors had distinct advantages over the Incas, including superior weaponry, a highly organized military strategy, and the support of native allies. These advantages, combined with internal divisions within the Inca Empire, ultimately led to the successful conquest of the Inca civilization.
(Word count: 604)
This video contains the answer to your query
The video provides a brief overview of the Spanish conquest of the Aztecs, led by Hernán Cortés. After forming an alliance with a Totanac chief, Cortés marched to the Aztec capital and eventually conquered it with the help of neighboring states. The Aztec emperor Montezuma II was arrested and later died during a rebellion in the city. Although the Spanish lost many men during their retreat, they were able to regroup and defeat the Aztecs once again. The surviving Aztecs were cast out and forbidden from living in the ashes of their former city, and the Spanish went on to conquer neighboring states and the Maya in the Yucatan Peninsula over the course of 170 years, aided by disease.
Some further responses to your query
The conquistador’s four major advantages were horses, steel armor, gunpowder, and resistance to their own diseases. Horses were unknown in the Americas, and no war animals were used by native populations for fighting or transportation. Steel armor rendered attacks by native weapons made of wood and stone almost null.
7 Reasons the Conquistadors Beat the Incas
- Civil War The fall of the Incas came in part because they were at their weakest for at least a decade.
The Spanish had better technology than the natives of the land, along with the carrying of diseases, and having very good diplomacy skills. These advantage overall led to the downfall of the natives and the success of the conquistadors.
I’m sure you will be interested
What were 3 advantages the Spanish had over the Inca?
Response to this: The Spanish were able to defeat the Aztec and the Inca not only because they had horses, dogs, guns, and swords, but also because they brought with them germs that made many native Americans sick. Diseases like smallpox and measles were unknown among the natives; therefore, they had no immunity to them.
What were the 3 major motivations of the Spanish conquistadors?
God, Gold, and Glory
Spain was driven by three main motivations. Columbus, in his voyage, sought fame and fortune, as did his Spanish sponsors.
What 3 advantages helped Cortés and the Spanish defeat the Aztec Empire?
Answer will be: The overthrow of the Aztec Empire by Cortez and his expedition rests on three factors: The fragility of that empire, the tactical advantages of Spanish technology, and smallpox.
What were the main advantages that the Spanish had in their conquest?
Response will be: Their Arms and Armor Made Them Nearly Unbeatable
The Spanish conquistadors had many military advantages over the New World natives. The Spanish had steel weapons and armor, which made them nearly unstoppable, as native weapons could not pierce Spanish armor nor could native armor defend against steel swords.
What were the advantages of the Incas over the Spanish?
Answer to this: The Inca had skilled generals, veteran soldiers and massive armies numbering in the tens or hundreds of thousands. The Spanish were greatly outnumbered, but their horses, armor, and weapons gave them an advantage that proved too great for their enemies to overcome. How did Conquistadors conquer the Aztecs and the Incas?
How did the Spanish conquer the Aztecs and Incas?
As an answer to this: The spanish conquered the great Aztec and Inca empires by bringing diseases to kill most of them off quickly, scaring them with the horses, and using their more advanced superior weapons to kill them. What do you think helped the Europeans the most in the defeat of the Inca and Aztec?
What advantages did the Spanish conquistadors have over the New World natives?
Answer: The Spanish conquistadors had many military advantages over the New World natives. The Spanish had steel weapons and armor, which made them nearly unstoppable, as native weapons could not pierce Spanish armor nor could native armor defend against steel swords.
How did the Spaniards destroy the Incan culture?
The reply will be: The Spaniards destroyed much of the Incan culture and imposed Spanish culture onto the native population. Engraving depicting the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro exposing before King Carlos I of Spain the evidence of the discovery of the fabulous Empire of the Incas.
How did the Spanish conquer the Aztecs and Incas?
The spanish conquered the great Aztec and Inca empires by bringing diseases to kill most of them off quickly, scaring them with the horses, and using their more advanced superior weapons to kill them. What do you think helped the Europeans the most in the defeat of the Inca and Aztec?
What were the advantages of the Incas over the Spanish?
The answer is: The Inca had skilled generals, veteran soldiers and massive armies numbering in the tens or hundreds of thousands. The Spanish were greatly outnumbered, but their horses, armor, and weapons gave them an advantage that proved too great for their enemies to overcome. How did Conquistadors conquer the Aztecs and the Incas?
What advantages did the Spanish conquistadors have over the New World natives?
Response to this: The Spanish conquistadors had many military advantages over the New World natives. The Spanish had steel weapons and armor, which made them nearly unstoppable, as native weapons could not pierce Spanish armor nor could native armor defend against steel swords.
How did the Spaniards destroy the Incan culture?
Answer: The Spaniards destroyed much of the Incan culture and imposed Spanish culture onto the native population. Engraving depicting the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro exposing before King Carlos I of Spain the evidence of the discovery of the fabulous Empire of the Incas.