The Spanish conquests of the Aztecs and Incas showcased how small Western military forces achieved massive successes over large native empires in the New World. Spanish invaders, with little local knowledge, used superior leadership and technology to overcome Aztec and Incan forces. The Incas’ empire was built on organizational skills, using a non-plunder approach and mass labor to sustain productivity. Despite gruesome rituals like human sacrifices, the Incas’ use of quipus for record-keeping and better infrastructure showed their edge over the Aztecs. Francisco Pizarro, a competent conqueror, sought to emulate Cortes’ success in the massive Incan Empire and establish a lasting dynasty.
https://mattlakeman.org/2025/03/24/conquest-of-the-incas/