The Conflict Between Aztecs And Incas

The Vanguard of the Atlantic World by James Sanders seems to do little more than reiterate the concept that American republican modernity was debated by various countries located in Latin America in regards to their status as a united global political power. Not to say that these nations were united in terms of alliances, or treaties, but rather that some intellectuals adopted the concept of a “sisterhood” of republic democracies. The analysis of the political systems in Latin America after their independence from European nations is not where the disappointment lies, but rather the lack of context given to various components in his research that were supposed to show the transition of Latin America during its state of transformation from colonial territories to independent republican nations.

In Jared Diamonds book, Guns, Germs, and Steel, he outlines the major factors that have contributed to both European colonization, and subsequent Indigenous defeats, as well as to globalization. Specifically, I will be expanding on the factors that contributed to Fernando Pizarro’s miraculous, and somewhat unlikely defeat of the Incan emperor Atahualpa at the battle of Cajamarca.

For decades, the history of Latin America has been shrouded in a cover of Spanish glory and myth that misleads and complicates the views of historians everywhere. Myths such as the relationship between natives and conquistadors, and the individuality of the conquistadors themselves stand as only a few examples of how this history may have become broken and distorted. However, in Seven Myths of the Spanish Conquest Matthew Restall goes to great lengths to dispel these myths and provide a more accurate history of Latin American, in a readable and enjoyable book.

Even though most of Latin America became independent of European colonial rule in the 19c, what were some of the cultural influences and other ties that still existed between the two continents? Between 1810 and 1825, all the Spanish territories on the American mainland gain their sovereignty from Spain. Simultaneously, the power of the Catholic Church diminishes, including its patronage of the visual arts. During these war-torn years, cultural production declines. These years witness political reform and the beginnings of self-fashioned societies. Caudillos or military dictators initially fill the vacuum left by the break-up of colonial rule, including Juan Manuel de Rosas (1793–1877) in Argentina,

The Aztec and Incan empire in Mesoamerica and the Andean Regions differed in their religious, cultural, and political traditions. Although both empires were located in the area of Mesoamerica, they were only similar in few ways. These two cultures were very influential to the nurturing of Mesoamerica and the Andean Regions.

Revolution started to take over the world. The French Revolution started to happen, and ideas of enlightens started to spread. Latin America’s Spanish King was just removed, and the Creole generals started to lead wars of independence. Now was the time to begin a Revolution. The uneven distribution of resources lead to conflict and Revolution in Latin America by geographic luck, advanced weapons, and unfair social class.

Models for post-revolutionary Latin American government are born of the complex economic and social realities of 17th and 18th century Europe. From the momentum of the Enlightenment came major political rebellions of the elite class against entrenched national monarchies and systems of power. Within this time period of elitist revolt and intensive political restructuring, the fundamental basis for both liberal and conservative ideology was driven deep into Latin American soil. However, as neither ideology sought to fulfill or even recognize the needs or rights of mestizo people under government rule, the initial liberal doctrine pervading Latin American nations perpetuated

The Bourbon Reforms in Spanish America and the Pombaline Reforms in Brazil were both motivated by the European state’s interest in increasing defense, centralizing authority, and expanding economic benefits of the their Latin American colonies.

American attitudes towards Latin America can be summed up as an extension of larger global directives, and the exclusion of foreign powers in the region. This was highlighted especially during the Cold War as US involvement was essentially in competition with the USSR. Latin America was therefore a mere pawn in the larger context of US-Soviet competition for global dominance. The actions and methods used are also characterized by the lack of an international authority, or an atmosphere of inter-state anarchy, which shaped their calculations in the endeavor to increase their influence over Latin America. When one analyzes the situation, it seems only rational that the United States treated its southern neighbors so, due to the geographical

However, the story of the Aztec defeat and the successful resolution of the Spanish mission against incredible odds raises many questions. Regardless of more advanced technology and weapons, the Spanish force was vastly outnumbered and began a military campaign poorly supplied within an unknown territory against an unknown enemy. This paper explores the possibility that other key factors were at play, which provided the Spanish with a several of advantages and facilitated the successful resolution of their campaign. Furthermore, these factors allowed for an incredibly quick and effective subjugation of millions of people – considering that by comparison it took hundreds of years to expel the Muslim armies from southern Spain, a war ending in 1492 and in which many conquistadores fighting in the new world took part of. This paper will argue that internal religious quarrels, unsustainable tax obligations, and continuing military conflicts weakened the Aztec social fabric by increasing resentment among subjugated towns and cities and diminishing trust among Aztec citizens in their highly centralized government.

With the increase in industrialization, particularly rail roads and steam boats, Latin America could efficiently export more goods. The installation of railroads and increased trade stabilized the economy of many countries. As long as Europe and the United States required raw materials, the economy would continue to grow. With the economy growing, political stability followed. This is demonstrated in Chasteen’s essay “Governance did become more orderly. As the profits of the export boom rose, government revenues from import/export taxes rose too…Higher government revenues afforded middle-class people new employment opportunities…Greater stability and prosperity attracted further investment from aboard intensifying trade, and the cycle repeated itself” (Chasteen, 207). As more money flowed into the continent, the more the government improved. Using the available revenue from the export boom, local governments could afford better equipment and put down rebellions with less casualties. The government was better able to provide more individuals with employment opportunities, thus stabilizing the politics in the Spanish Americas.

With this movement came new interests in territorial expansion, changes in image, and the shift of power dynamics that focused on Eurocentrializing the nation. In order to fabric these new modernized nations, the elites of the nations realized they needed to eliminate any internal obstacles that would halt the nation’s progress towards modernization. Therefore, it was necessary to eliminate the indigenous populations in order to attract European immigration and capital. And this is the framework that the South American nations used to justify the execution of the indigenous people from collective memory. “In Chile, some Araucanians fought for the insurgents, but most who took up arms and they fought along side of the Spanish to keep their livelihood.”

The conquest of Latin America was a fairly quick process in which the theme of hegemony was vastly prominent. The cultures of colonialism and competitive nature to obtain wealth through exploitation were the main driving force of hegemony. It is natural to exploit the people of lower class or societal rank for one's own advantage, and that is what happened. As the pressure of power and control became overbearing toward the people, resistance was sure to follow.

Latin America as continent is a very diverse, culturally, geographically and in the people who inhabit the land. Some are ancestors of the indigenous people to the land, some are African Americans whose ancestors were brought over during the slave trade, others are of European descent, specifically Spanish and Portuguese who’s ancestors came to Latin America during the late 1400’s to either acquire land through the encomienda, capitancy or intendancy system; or to follow the “Spanish Dream” of coming to the New World and creating a life with prestige and wealth. Latin America was developed through imperialism, the idea that one country could control another country and that country’s economy, and political system from outside its borders. Through this idea of imperialism came the era of colonization. Latin America was colonized by Spain and Portugal, but mostly Spain, Portugal colonized Brazil. The failure of Latin America as a state can be attributed to the act of colonization by the Spanish and Portuguese.

In contrast, in a review of the latter author of “Investigaciones” written by Andrés Bello, who intends to shift all the guilt from the grotesque way that Spain imposed the government and imposed slavery to simple human nature. The author also states out how Spain has been remembered and also “envied” for how they proceeded when it came to conquering American soil, but this author in particular points out how this has always been the way mighty states have come across with power and wealth, dealing with the weak among other terrible