The Broken Spears contains general evidence of well trained, effective, and dynamic Aztec military forces capable of going toe to toe with Spanish forces. This book highlights the important role that fear played in paralyzing Aztec leadership. The Broken Spears indicates that the Aztecs had efficient, well trained armies. Military preparations were so thorough they even conscripted young children for combat training (Leon Portilla, XLIII). By the time the Spanish had arrived, the Aztecs had subjected most of their neighbors to a tributary relationship.
With the help of two interpreters, Hernan Cortes was able to gather the necessary information to direct his troops and resources against the great city of Tenochtitlan, subdue the Aztec leader, Montezuma and the city’s inhabitants, and retain large sums of Aztec wealth. In this process, Cortes spread the Columbian Exchange from the Caribbean islands to the mainland of what is present day Mexico (Exploration and the Caribbean, 9/10/13). The Aztecs used their strong warrior culture to conquer other city-states. Three main city-states, Tenochtitlan, Tezcoco, and Tlcaopan, were the center of the Aztec Empire (Leon Portilla, XXXI). The Aztec society was divided into three main classes: the Nobles, the Middle Class, and the Commoners. “Among the Aztec in general was a hereditary class of nobles called the pipiltin, who received a share of the lands and tribute from the conquered areas, the amount related to their administrative position and rank” (Burkholder and Johnson, 15). These were the groups of people higher class people who had the highest military positions, priesthood, and a civil bureaucracy.
Religion was very important to the Aztecs, who were polytheistic; they served hundreds of gods and goddesses. They feared a natural disaster that would eventually destroy the empire. One of the most important Aztec gods was Huitzilopchtli, who was recognized as the sun god of war. The Aztecs believed he needed blood...