Indigenous Allies: The Key to the Conquest of America

The conquest of America relied on indigenous alliances, not just Spanish power

The conquest of America was made possible by a complex network of alliances with indigenous peoples subjugated by the Mexica, rather than by the technological or biological superiority of the Spaniards. This is reflected in a heated exchange of opinions that challenges the traditional narrative and focuses on demography, diseases, and local politics.

The myth of Spanish superiority

The idea that a handful of Spaniards conquered an empire of thousands of warriors armed with clubs and stones is an oversimplification. As argued in the discussion, without Tlaxcalan support and Purépecha neutrality, Hernán Cortés would have failed. The conquest was possible thanks to the internal division of Mesoamerican peoples, who saw the Spaniards as an opportunity to break free from Mexica rule.

Indigenous allies were decisive in episodes such as the Battle of Otumba or the siege of Tenochtitlan. After the Night of Sorrows, the Spaniards managed to survive thanks to the Tlaxcalans returning with thousands of men. Without them, the enterprise would have been unviable.

The role of diseases

Smallpox and other epidemics decimated the indigenous population, but they do not explain the conquest on their own. It is argued that without alliances and tactical superiority at key moments, the Spaniards would not have been able to subdue densely populated empires. The demographics do not add up to an extermination solely caused by diseases.

Animal domestication as a factor

A curious point that emerges in the exchange is the difference in animal domestication. While nearly twenty species were domesticated in Europe and Asia, only a few in America. This influenced the availability of horses, pigs, and cows, but was not decisive for the conquest.

Conclusion

The conquest of America was a complex process where indigenous alliances, diseases, and military tactics combined. Reducing it to supposed racial or cultural superiority is a historical error that ignores the agency of indigenous peoples.