Continent on the Move:Mexico

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Continent on the Move: Mexico
The Conquest of Aztec
The Spanish, under the leadership of Hernan Cortes, conquered Aztec Empire in 1521. The Spanish wanted Gold. Therefore, after Moctezuma (Aztec emperor) welcomed him, Cortes took advantage of the prevailing political differences within the Aztec Empire. He learned that several city-states detested the Aztec’s domination of the region and wanted freedom (Hassig, 24). Thus, he allied with them using force and trickery. Cortes also rallied other communities, such as Tlaxcalans and Cholulas, against Aztecs, leading to the killing of Moctezuma. Moctezuma’s death was the beginning of Aztecs conquest. The Spanish weapons were superior to the Aztecs’ weapons, and this helped them subdue Aztecs easily. Aztecs feared the Spaniards’ big horses. They had never seen such huge animals. Spaniards also came with strange diseases, such as smallpox, which killed and weakened many Mexican civilians and soldiers. Consequently, in 1521, Aztecs admitted defeat. Aztec, the once powerful empire came to a dead end.
Aztec’s Social Structure
The Empire was the highest Aztecs’ social hierarchy. The emperor attended to trade, warfare, tribute, and the law of the land. Below the emperor were the nobles. Nobles were government officials, such as judges and tax collectors. Their primary role was to help the emperor run the government. All noble positions were heredity. Warriors and priests were the next in level after the emperor and nobles (Winn 236).

Warriors protected the society from enemies. Priests, on the other hand, led religious activities. Aztecs revered many gods. Priests offered human sacrifices to these gods to please them. Below priests and warriors were the artisans and merchants, who were also traders. Farmers and laborers were the lowest in the social structure, but the majority of Aztecs’ populations. Farmers and laborers owned few tracts of land but paid highest amounts in tributes.
Mexican immigrants reshaped the U.S culture
A great proportion of the U.S. food and dietary customs changed due to the immigration of Mexicans into States. Mexican dishes, such as tamales, enchiladas, burritos, and tacos, are very prevalent U.S. today. Mexican music cultures have also become predominant in the American music industry, denoting the impact of Mexican immigration into the U.S. Further, Mexicans’ immigration into the U.S. added to the diversity of the U.S society. A good proportion of the U.S. population speaks the Spanish language. Mexican fashion is immense, colorful and bold in the U.S. because of Mexicans’ immigration.

Works Cited
Hassig, Ross. Mexico and the Spanish Conquest. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2006.
Winn, Peter. Americas: The Changing Face of Latin America and the Caribbean. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2006. Print.