How did the Spanish conquer the Aztec and Inca societies?

The Spanish conquest of the Aztec and Inca empires was marked by significant violence and military aggression, making forced labor and violence the primary methods of subjugation. The Spanish, led by figures such as Hernán Cortés and Francisco Pizarro, utilized superior military technology, including guns and horses, which were unfamiliar to the Indigenous peoples. This technological advantage, combined with strategic tactics and brutal attacks, allowed the Spanish to overwhelm the larger but less militarily advanced Aztec and Inca societies.

Furthermore, the Spanish often exploited existing rivalries among Indigenous groups. They allied with certain tribes that were enemies of the Aztecs and Incas to bolster their own forces. However, the most defining characteristic of the conquest was the use of violence, including battles, sieges, and massacres, to assert control over these powerful empires. This brutal approach led to significant loss of life and the eventual fall of both empires, laying the groundwork for Spanish colonization of vast territories in the Americas.