History on Fire

EPISODE 23 The Conquest of Mexico (Part 4): Tenochtitlan Or Bust

Aug 17, 2017

Dive into the harrowing clash between the Spaniards and the Mexica, where horrific tactics and deep betrayals shape a dark chapter in history. Witness the tragic aftermath of conquest, as smallpox wreaks havoc on indigenous populations. Follow Cortés' ruthless strategies, from brutal battles to desperate power struggles, and hear the heartbreaking cries of those caught in the chaos. The siege of Tenochtitlan reveals a profound struggle for survival amidst overwhelming odds, leaving a lasting impact on the land and its people.

02:27:11

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Quick takeaways

The initial acceptance of the Spaniards by the Mexica quickly deteriorated into conflict after a massacre during a religious ceremony.

The battle of La Noche Triste marked a crucial turning point for the Mexica as they reclaimed Tenochtitlan from the Spaniards.

The Tlaxcalans' alliance with the Spaniards, despite historical tensions, significantly bolstered Cortés's military resources against the Mexica.

The introduction of smallpox catalyzed a devastating decline in the Mexica population, contributing to the eventual fall of Tenochtitlan.

Deep dives

The Arrival of the Spaniards and Early Tensions

The Mexica's initial acceptance of the Spaniards as guests quickly escalated into conflict, primarily due to the actions of the Spaniards, including the massacre of thousands of unarmed Mexica during a religious ceremony led by Alvarado. This brutal act shattered the fragile tolerance between the two groups, leading the Mexica to unite against their invaders with a profound desire for vengeance. The noted battle of La Noche Triste, a night of significant loss for the Spaniards as they attempted a hasty retreat, marked a turning point where the Mexica directly reclaimed their capital, Tenochtitlan. However, the Mexica emperor Quitlawak’s failure to pursue the fleeing Spaniards after this victory was a critical strategic error that allowed the Spaniards to regroup and recover.

Intro

3min

Aftermath of Conquest: The Rise and Fall of Tenochtitlan

29min

The Impact of Disease and Leadership Turmoil in Tenochtitlan

3min

Tensions and Turncoats: The Road to Tenochtitlan

37min

The Strain of Command: Capturing Chikotenga and Preparing for Assault

3min

The Siege of Tenochtitlan: Struggle and Desperation in the Water

54min

Aftermath of Conquest: Lives and Loss

13min

“After getting this information, he had the arms, feet, and heads of our unfortunate companions cut off, and sent them round to various towns of our allies and those who had made peace with us, with the message that he did not think one of us would be left alive to return to Texcoco. Then he offered their hearts and blood to his idols.” Bernal Diaz

“Eat the flesh of your brothers, for we are full. You can stuff yourselves with our leftovers.” Mexica warriors addressing the Spaniards

“It is better that we should all die fighting in the city than see ourselves in the power of those who would enslave us and torture us for gold.” From a speech attributed to a Mexica captain

“The people of the city had to walk upon their dead while others swam or drowned in the waters of that wide lake… so great was their suffering that it was beyond our understanding how they could endure it.” Hernan Cortes

In the 1500s, two highly militaristic peoples fueled by religious ideologies requiring bloodshed clashed with one another. This is the tale of what happened when a band of Spaniards run into the Mexica (Aztec) empire. By the time the dust will settle, out of the 25 million indigenous inhabitants of Mexico, little over a million will be left standing.

In this fourth episode:

-Cortes’ charge at the battle of Otumba

-The Tlaxcalan fateful choice

-Branding POWs in the face with the letter G for Guerra

-Smallpox was better than any army for the Spaniards

-Cortes holds a rape auction

-The master carpenter Martin Lopez, and his ships sealed with boiling human fat taken from dead Mexica warriors

-A plot against Cortes ends with a hanging

-Cortes on top of the pyramid at Xochimilco sees 2,000 canoes coming to kill him

-Xicotenga and Led Zeppelin’s Gallows Pole

-The siege of Tenochtitlan

-Cortes flirting with death

-The human sacrifice that gave Bernal Diaz permanent PTSD

-Eating the plaster off your walls and still fighting on

-The city of the dead

-The Mexica emperor being introduced to the expression “holding the feet to the fire”

-Ramsay Bolton would have loved both Mexica and Spaniards

-The aftermath of the Conquest

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History on Fire

EPISODE 23 The Conquest of Mexico (Part 4): Tenochtitlan Or Bust

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

The Arrival of the Spaniards and Early Tensions

Key Battles and Shifting Fortunes

The Role of Alliances and Internal Politics

The Impact of Disease on the Mexica Population

The Siege of Tenochtitlan and Its Aftermath

The Capture of Cuauhtémoc and the Fall of a Civilization

Long-Term Consequences of the Conquest

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts