[taejavu]

This is not an apologist perspective, my heart weeps for the knowledge that was lost. But from the perspective of the Spanish conquistadors, all of Aztec culture looked like devil worship. Bear in mind these were Catholics who were suddenly immersed in a culture that regularly performed ritual human sacrifice. So they buried their statues and burned their books. It's tragic, but not all that surprising, really.

[roughly]

I think that's how they justified it, but all the looting and slave labor are what required the justification.

The book "Why Nations Fail" spends a while discussing the Spanish approach to the Americas, and "Extractive" doesn't even begin to cover it.

[christkv]

You do realize that the Aztecs also practiced slavery as well.

[AlecSchueler]

That in no way justifies the behavior of the Spanish at the time.