alternatehistory.com

We see lots of PODs about "no Spanish invasions of Mesoamerica" (which usually lead to no invasions of the Andes), but let's take it for granted that even if the Aztecs obliterate the Spanish force and Cortez's gambit doesn't pay off, the Spanish will be back looking for gold, and they won't be asking politely. But what then? Without Cortez's clever realpolitick (forming an alliance with the Aztecs' many enemies) or his sheer devotion/insanity (burning the ships), it's dubious that any other Spanish armies the same size as Cortez's could do what was done IOTL. So the Aztecs destroy the puny force, but not before European diseases start slamming through Mesoamerica and the Indians feel the power of the European technical advantage. What happens next? Slow, steady conquest of the Mexican tribes, or a quick but much bloodier (for the Spanish) war? What effect will this have on later contact with the Inca and on colonization?
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