The Aztecs were a very powerful civilization that was thought to begin in 1325 B.C.E. with the founding of their capital city, Tenochtitlán. They prospered for quite some time before a young Spaniard explorer by the name of Hernán Cortés invaded their city. Before this, they traveled to get to the Aztec empire. The Spanish clashed with a lot of Indian tribes who joined forces with the Spanish after hearing of their plan to defeat the Aztecs.
After the Aztec ruler heard of Cortés' plan to defeat his empire, he tried to buy Cortés off. This didn't stop him however and he was allowed to march his thousand Tlaxcaltec into the capital of the Aztec empire.
When the leader of the Aztecs, Montezuma suspected the Spanish to be divine beings of the god Quetzalcoatl. This meant the Spanish were treated with the utmost respect from the Aztecs. When Cortés heard of this, he took Montezuma hostage, effectively allowing him to govern the entirety of the Aztec empire through him.
While Cortés had control for a little while, other people wanted the Aztecs for themselves. Another explorer named Pánfilo Narvez was one of these people. Cortés left with his army and left a few of his subordinates in charge. He defeated Narvez, taking his army for his own. When he returned to Tenochtitlán, he found that it was in turmoil.
Cortés had to abandon Tenochtitlán at a heavy cost. He left on a boat across Lake Texcoco, which sank because it was stuffed with all of his soldiers and treasures he had stolen from the Aztecs. The day is now known as "The Day of Sadness."
Picture of Hernán Cortés
Fun Facts:
- The Aztecs actually built Tenochititlán on some of the most difficult terrain in the world.
- The Aztec Empire was an informal empire ruled by indirect means.
- Most of the Aztec population was killed by disease following the Spanish conquest.
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