The Spanish colonization under the leadership of Hernan Cortes and Francisco Pizzaro is often cited as one of the reasons behind the destruction of great civilizations like the Aztec and Inca.
At the time of Cortes’ arrival, in Mexico, Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec empire was at the height of its splendour. In the palace of the Aztec king, Moctezuma, the Spaniards saw much gold and silver, and this intensified their greed.
Cortes attacked the Aztec king. His men behaved so disgracefully towards the Aztecs that they raised in revolt. Soon, the Spaniards managed the destruction of Tenochtitlan. With the fall of the capital city, the Aztec civilization, with its staggering sophistication, especially in the field of engineering, was slowly destroyed.
Then came the turn of the Incas. Just as the Aztec Empire fell, following the death of its king, the Inca Empire too, was doomed when its empire was captured by Francisco Pizzaro another Spaniard, and his followers. Thus by the end of 1533, the Inca Empire with all its skills had vanished.
Even though the voyage of Hernan Cortes to Mexico is considered to be great, it is infamous in the pages of history, for the destruction of these two great civilizations.