What was the impact of Hernan Cortes on the Aztec Empire?

Hernan Cortes had a profound and devastating impact on the Aztec Empire, culminating in its downfall. In 1519, he arrived in Mexico and, through a combination of military conquest and strategic alliances with other indigenous groups that were rivaling the Aztecs, he was able to capture the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan in 1521.

Cortes's actions directly led to the collapse of the Aztec Empire as he and his forces, armed with superior military technology, exploited the political and social divisions within the region. Additionally, the introduction of European diseases, such as smallpox, decimated the indigenous populations, further weakening the Aztec Empire's ability to resist conquest.

While the other options may reflect some aspects of interactions that Cortes had, they do not encapsulate the primary and most significant effect he had on the Aztecs, which was ultimately their defeat and the end of their empire.