Inca, Maya and Aztecs vs Conquistadors: History of the New World

Let's have our next discussion about the early modern history of the New World. The Inca, the Maya and Aztec Empires vs the Conquistadors! The Inca, and the Aztec civilizations flourished from approximately 13th to 15th century AD. The height of the Maya culture and civilization was approximately between 3rd and 10th century AD. These were the largest civilizations in pre-Columbian America. What were the Incas, Aztecs and the Maya known for? How unique and innovative was their civilization compared to post-Columbian era? What was their life like before the conquest of the New World by the Spaniards? How did a handful of Spanish soldier adventurers conquer an empire(s) of hundreds of thousands if not millions of people? How did the Incas, the Aztecs and the Maya expand their territory and what skills made it possible for them to build large Empires in the Americas? Was it through military conquest, trade, political alliances, etc., What was their contributions to architecture, agriculture, road construction, literature and the arts? How did the Incas, Aztecs and the Maya interact with the Spanish before and after the conquest of South and Central America? How did the Spanish react when they encountered the indigenous peoples of the Americas?

Book Recommendations (You can also make your own book selections as well):

The Incas: New Perspectives by Gordon Francis McEwan

The Inca: Lost Civilizations by Kevin Lane

Aztecs of Central Mexico: An Imperial Society by Frances F. Berdan

The Aztec Empire: An Enthralling Overview of the History of the Aztecs, Starting with the Settlement in the Valley of Mexico

Maya to Aztec: Ancient Mesoamerica revealed (DVD)

The Maya: A Very Short Introduction by Amara Solari and Matthew Restall

Maya Lords and Lordship: The Formation of Colonial Society in Yucatan, 1350–1600 by Sergio Quezada