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Si Sheppard – How did a few hundred Spanish soldiers topple two empires?

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Based on the episode description, not a full transcript. Source evidence retrieved 01/10/2026, 16:25:24 UTC.

Briefings

Military historian Si Sheppard discusses how Hernan Cortes and Francisco Pizarro conquered the Aztec and Inca empires respectively. Cortes defeated the 6 million-strong Aztec empire in 2.5 years, while Pizarro subdued the 10 million-strong Inca empire a decade later. Both conquistadors consistently defeated native armies while being vastly outnumbered, often using 99% of their forces composed of the very natives they subjugated. The episode explores whether technology or diplomacy was the decisive factor, noting that the empires did not learn from each other and Spain ultimately lost in the long run.

Key points

• Hernan Cortes conquered the 6 million-strong Aztec empire in 2.5 years using approximately 100 Conquistadors.
• Francisco Pizarro subdued the 10 million-strong Inca empire a decade later with a similar force ratio.

Context and limitations

The podcast covers only the conquests of the Aztec and Inca empires, with no data on other regions or conflicts.

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