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Why the Bronze Age Collapsed

412 points · 306 comments · AnodicElegy

  1. bugake · · focus · HN ↗
    The text wrongly claims that the Spanish defeated the Aztecs because of their iron weapons. Actually, the Spanish were vastly outnumbered, so their weapons alone were irrelevant in the battle. The Spanish had alliances with Indigenous peoples who opposed the Aztec Empire, giving them a much larger army. That defeated the Aztecs.
    1. dainank · · focus · HN ↗
      This is blatant misinformation. Three things led to defeat:

      - European diseases

      - superior weaponry

      - alliances with local Aztec enemies

      The first wave of smallpox killed 5-8 million and is by far one of the greatest factors.

      1. somenameforme · · focus · HN ↗
        Cortez had around 500 men. Even if you get rid of 99% of the local population, which they didn't, they'd have been outnumbered in to an absurd degree.
        1. jrimbault · · focus · HN ↗
          If that's 500 fighting men, that's actually a sizeable army. Especially with no supply train.
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