They would have saved the lives of millions of Native Americans. The demise of the Aztec Empire is often attibuted to superstition and advanced weapons of the Spanish but it was really Small Pox that decimated them.

During the "Noche Triste" fiasco, Cortés' retreat from Tenochitlán with his Indian allies nearly resembled a rout as captured Spaniards were sacrificed in plain view of their comrades. Cortés managed to rally his forces outside the city was nearly overwhelmed the next morning as the Aztecs attacked. Cortés was saved from desaster when he managed to kill some key Aztec leaders and drive the Aztec back long enough for his beleagured forces to make a hasty retreat to Veracruz.

A year later, Cortés returned with a fresh army to find the Aztec capital a shadow of its former glory. Small Pox had done what no empire had been able to do in 200 years, destroy one of the greatest civilizations the world had known.

Would the result have been much different had the Aztecs discovered Spain?

Dave M