Reddit reviews History of the Conquest of Peru

>if they had met the armies prior to disease they wouldn't have had a chance most likely.

But, that happened. If you read the description of the battle in Cajamarca, you will notice that I'm not so wrong, and that Spanish also had better tactics, and incredible amount of luck. Curiosity of Atahualpa let them inside, when emperor came they let him and only some 5000 men inside the fortress they abandoned. And then, slaughter begun with cannons. It shocked Inca army so much, that cutting them with heavy swords was just a hard work, but not a problem. Even a man on a horse was a miracle, not to mention shiny armor and all. That was crucial, like a sudden coup...

Diseases, yes. But more in Mezoamerica (when Pedro de Alvarado started to conquer Guatemala, Mayans were decimated because messengers from the Mexico Valley already transfered the diseases). Pizzaro had to face full Inca army of some 100.000 men. And he had tactics as I said. Cortes had much harder way, had to gather other tribe nations against the Aztecas, and had to go through Noche Triste. Difference was this: while Inca could not function as a society without Atahualpa (when he was captured), Aztecas didn't give a s..t when Moctezuma was in custody.

Both stories open this theme of difference between civilizations, it was a true meeting of two worlds, and it happened relatively recently. Fantastic read here, about Peru, is a book by Prescott: http://www.amazon.com/History-Conquest-Peru-William-Prescott/dp/0486440079