because why was it that the conquistadors were able to exploit the locals and not the other way around?
Have you considered the possibility that it was a case of mutual exploitation? The Aztec allies of the conquistadors weren’t there out of the goodness of their hearts; they had found a new angle that would help them defeat Tenochtitlan. They lost the post-victory power struggle, but it was always going to be someone.
Have you considered the possibility that it was a case of mutual exploitation? The Aztec allies of the conquistadors weren’t there out of the goodness of their hearts; they had found a new angle that would help them defeat Tenochtitlan. They lost the post-victory power struggle, but it was always going to be someone.