Disease played a huge part in the fall of the Aztec empire. After Cortes landed in Mexico, another Spanish army came and attacked them. In this new group was an African being held as a slave, who had smallpox, a very contagious disease. One of Cortes' men contracted the disease. When they returned, the Aztec army quickly overwhelmed the Spanish, killing many and causing the rest to retreat. The soldier was killed, and, likely when his body was looted, an Aztec caught the disease. Quickly, smallpox spread…
Words 1333 - Pages 6