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The European explorer who destroyed the Aztec civilization was C. Cortés.
Here's why:
1. Hernán Cortés, a Spanish conquistador, led the expedition that resulted in the fall of the Aztec Empire in the early 16th century.
2. Cortés and his men arrived in the Aztec capital city of Tenochtitlan in 1519, seeking gold and other riches. Through alliances with local indigenous groups who were enemies of the Aztecs, as well as military tactics and diseases like smallpox that devastated the Aztec population, Cortés was able to defeat the Aztec ruler Montezuma II and ultimately conquer the empire in 1521.
3. The destruction of the Aztec civilization by Cortés and his forces marked a significant turning point in the history of the Americas, leading to the colonization and domination of indigenous peoples by European powers.
I hope this helps clarify your question! Let me know if you need more information.
