Manco Inca, a previous Inca ruler and father of Titu Cusi, whom the Spanish had imprisoned after conquering the Inca capital of Cuzco in 1533
Which of the following most directly facilitated the conquest alluded to in the passage?
a) Spanish control of the trans-Atlantic slave trade
b) Spanish advantages over native American populations in terms of technology and disease immunity
c) The completion of the reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula
d) The establishment of a cash-crop plantation economy on some of the islands in the in the Atlantic Ocean
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is b) Spanish advantages over native American populations in terms of technology and disease immunity.
Explanation:
The conquest of the Inca Empire, as alluded to in the passage, was primarily facilitated by Spanish technological advantages and the devastating impact of diseases on the native populations of the Americas.
- Technological Advantages: The Spanish had significant technological superiority, particularly in weaponry. They possessed firearms, steel swords, and armor, which gave them a decisive advantage over the Inca, whose weapons were made of bronze and stone. The Spanish also had horses, which were not present in the Americas before their arrival. These advantages allowed relatively small numbers of Spanish soldiers to defeat larger Incan forces.
- Disease Immunity: One of the most critical factors in the Spanish conquest was the spread of diseases such as smallpox, influenza, and measles, to which the native populations had no immunity. These diseases decimated the Inca population, weakening their ability to resist Spanish forces. It is estimated that millions of indigenous people died from diseases brought by the Europeans, leading to a dramatic decrease in the Inca’s ability to fight back. The epidemic also destabilized the Inca Empire, contributing to internal divisions and strife.
The other options do not directly relate to the immediate causes of the conquest:
- a) Spanish control of the trans-Atlantic slave trade: While the Spanish did benefit from slave labor in their colonies, the trans-Atlantic slave trade became more prominent after the conquest of the Americas and did not play a central role in the immediate Spanish victory over the Incas.
- c) The completion of the reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula: The reconquest of Spain from the Moors in 1492 did give Spain the resources and motivation to explore the Americas. However, it did not directly affect the conquest of the Inca Empire, which was a result of more immediate factors like disease and military technology.
- d) The establishment of a cash-crop plantation economy on some of the islands in the Atlantic Ocean: This option pertains more to the later colonial economy of the Caribbean and the development of sugar plantations. While important in the broader context of Spanish colonialism, it did not directly facilitate the conquest of the Inca Empire.
Therefore, the most direct factor was the Spanish advantages in technology and the devastating effects of diseases on the native population.