The Spanish conquistadors were equipped with steel weapons and armor, while the native peoples they encountered typically had only stone, wood, and bone tools and weapons. This gave the Spanish a significant advantage in combat, as steel was much stronger and more durable than the materials used by the natives.
Horses
The Spanish also had horses, which gave them greater mobility and speed than the native peoples, who typically traveled by foot. Horses allowed the Spanish to cover long distances quickly and to outmaneuver their opponents in battle.
Gunpowder
The Spanish were also armed with gunpowder weapons, such as arquebuses and cannons, which were far superior to the weapons used by the native peoples. Gunpowder weapons allowed the Spanish to inflict heavy casualties on their opponents from a distance, and they also helped to spread fear and panic among the native peoples.
Disease
The Spanish also brought diseases with them to the Americas, such as smallpox and measles, which devastated the native populations. These diseases killed millions of people and further weakened the native peoples' ability to resist the Spanish conquest.