One can make an excellent case that germs defeated the civilized Indian empires more than the Spanish did. It’s hard to fight a more technologically advanced invader when your 30 to 50% of your population is dying in a short period.
For comparison, consider how well Europe might have resisted a major invasion during the throes of the Black Death, especially if the invaders were largely immune.
The Aztecs were largely overthrown by other Indians they had oppressed, but the Incas are a much more clear case of the lethal combination of Guns, Germs and Steel. (To coin a phrase.) :)
It’s hard to fight a more technologically advanced invader when your 30 to 50% of your population is dying in a short period.
Lord knows they were almost wiped out by the ensuing diseases and brutality, but the Spaniards wouldn't even have gotten a toe-hold if it hadn't been for their superiority in arms. Even after Montezuma wised up about the new Quetzalcoatl, his troops still couldn't win. Plus, I think their method of combat was more one-on-one compared to the organized Spaniards.
The Aztecs were largely overthrown by other Indians they had oppressed, but the Incas are a much more clear case of the lethal combination of Guns, Germs and Steel. (To coin a phrase.)
Good phrase. That conquest amazed me. Lucky for Pizarro he came in in the middle of a civil war and played each side against the other. But just look at our own Indian wars - as long as we had muzzleloaders the Indians held their own. When breechloaders and repeaters came in, it was all over. Our locust-like numbers didn't help either.