‹ BackHN Continuity

Thread

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. CSMastermind · · focus · HN ↗
      The misinformation about the Spanish conquest of the Aztecs is one of the most depressing things imaginable.

      The historical record is completely clear and we have first hand accounts, primary sources, from the people present. It's all readily available and anyone interest can easily verify it.

      And yet, even in the comments responding to yours, people confidently state just blatantly untrue things.

      1. cassepipe · · focus · HN ↗
        Could you post a bit more about what constitutes in your eyes blatant misinformation ?
        1. CSMastermind · · focus · HN ↗
          I replied elsewhere but:

          - Gunpowder and steel had essentially nothing to do with Cortez's victory.

          - The Aztecs did not see the Spaniards as Gods

          - Smallpox played a role at the very end but had little to do with Cortez's victory.

          - They leave out the primary reason Cortez won (his ability to build a coalition of native people who hated the Aztecs).

          - They leave out the secondary reason Cortez won (superior European battle tactics).

          - They ignore the fact that there were Europeans fighting on both sides (a delegation was sent from Cuba to stop Cortez; they were the ones that actually brought the smallpox not Cortez).

Open on Hacker News to reply ↗

Unofficial Hacker News client; not affiliated with Y Combinator.