The Aztecs by

February 1519- April 1510- Cortez lands at Veracruz

hayleycollins01 — 2025-09-17 04:36:41 UTC

Cortes left Cuba in February 1519 because he wanted to explore new land and become wealthy. Even though he didn’t have permission from the Spanish governor, he ignored the order and left anyways. This choice led to him arriving at Veracruz in April 1519. His arrival was important because it became the first Spanish settlement in Mexico. By landing there, Cortes began Spain’s journey on the mainland. His decision to leave Cuba without permission had a major impact, as it marked the start of the Spanish Conquest in Mexico.

References:

.https://exploration.marinersmuseum.org/subject/hernandocortes/#:~:text=Eventually%2C%20Cortés%20agreed%20to%20marry,natives%2C%20and%20travel%20the%20land.

.https://www.britannica.com/biography/Hernan-Cortes

Massacre at toxcatl- May 1520

hayleycollins01 — 2025-09-23 01:11:08 UTC

In 1520 during the feast of toxcatl, this highest day of the Aztec calendar, Spanish soldiers attacked the defenceless Aztec nobles while trying to enjoy a feast. While Cortez was away dealing with a Spanish rival he left Pedro De Alvarado in charge however, Alvarado organised a surprised attack on the unarmed Aztecs, resulting in the Spanish killing many nobles. This resulted in the Aztecs being shocked and outraged with the Spanish, breaking all trust they had for one another. The violent act only made the Aztecs fight but strongly, this resulted in the Spanish and Aztecs becoming fierce enemies creating conflict.

References:

.https://www.doaks.org/resources/online-exhibits/epidemics/epidemics-english/fall-of-tenochtitlan/festival-of-toxcatl#

.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/14701847.2016.1223463#:~:text=In%20May%201520%2C%20on%20the,bearers%20of%20an%20indigenous%20perspective.

La Noche Triste (the night of sorrows)- June 1520

hayleycollins01 — 2025-09-23 01:12:13 UTC

In June 1520, Cortes and his Spanish conquistadors, along with their indigenous allies, tried to escape the Aztecs in Tenochtitlan after the Massacre of Toxcatl. This violent attack on the unarmed Aztecs nobles made them very angry, and they surrounded the city with fierce assaults to stop the Spanish. The Aztecs launched a strong attack while the Spanish were trying to flee at night. This escape resulted into being called the Night of Sorrows, causing many deaths and a major turning point between the 2 groups.

References:

.https://www.thoughtco.com/the-night-of-sorrows-2136530

.https://www.historyskills.com/classroom/year-8/la-noche-triste/?srsltid=AfmBOoomAJo_SsMHHp8zuGvBO0cYVOxPc7fNPqvYPaEUwNSiGu7_BuH

.https://www.indigenousmexico.org/articles/indigenous-tlaxcala-the-allies-of-the-spaniards#:~:text=This%20night%20–%20often%20referred%20to,4%2C000%20Tlaxcalans%20and%2046%20horses.

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Battle of otumba- July 1520

hayleycollins01 — 2025-09-23 01:13:04 UTC

The Battle of Otumba happened in July 1520, after the Spanish fled from Tenochtitlan. Cortes led around 1,000 Spanish soldiers and allies, who were being chased by a much bigger aztec army’s of up to 30,000 soldiers. Although they were heavily outnumbered, the Spanish soldiers had much stronger weapons such as, steel swords, guns, and horses. In the open fields near Otumba, they used these weapons to charge through the aztec warriors. Cortes and his men killed important aztec leaders, which caused confusion and fear, however the Spanish won the battle, proving their strength in difficult situations.

References:

.https://www.historyextra.com/period/tudor/hernan-cortes-montezuma-tenochtitlan-aztec-conquest-conquistadors/#

.https://totalwar.fandom.com/wiki/Battle_of_Otumba

Small pox Epicdemic- 1520-1521

hayleycollins01 — 2025-09-23 01:14:15 UTC

The smallpox epidemic that struck the aztecs began in 1520, soon after Spanish conquistadors arrived in Mexico. The Spanish carried the disease with them without knowing it, and because the aztecs had no idea what smallpox’s was, they had no protection from the disease. Smallpox’s spread very fast and killed millions of people including many important leaders and soldiers. The disease caused extreme fear and pain for all, as well as badly damaging communities making it hard for people to survive, as it was hard to get access to essentials such as food. Smallpox ended up being one of the deadliest diseases to ever spread.

References:

.https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/how-smallpox-devastated-the-aztecs-and-helped-spain-conquer-an-american-civilization-500-years-ago

.https://www.britannica.com/summary/Decline-of-the-Aztec-Empire#:~:text=When%20the%20Spanish%20arrived%2C%20they,was%20the%20Aztec%20emperor%20Cuitláhuac.

Siege and fall of Tenochtitla- 1521

hayleycollins01 — 2025-09-23 01:15:09 UTC

The siege and fall of Tenochtitlan in 1521 ended the Aztec empire. Cortes, was first welcomed by the emperor Moctezuma ll, who ended up capturing him causing tension between one another. After the Aztecs rebelled against the spanish, Cortes withdrew during the La Noche Triste in 1520 but returned with more soldiers in 1521 to surround the city. However the Spanish with help from indigenous allies, cut off the Aztecs resources limiting their usage of food and water. The Aztecs fought hard but became weaker when smallpox started to spread, resulting in hunger. Overall, the spanish had better weapons, including of swords and horses, giving them an advantage. After months of fighting, the city fell on August 13, 1521, marking the end of the Aztec empire.

References:

.https://www.soldemedianochenews.org/the-aztec-defeat.html

.https://www.utmb.edu/mdnews/podcast/episode/fall-of-the-aztecs

Changes in Mexico since Spanish colonial rule

hayleycollins01 — 2025-09-25 23:32:36 UTC

The Spanish conquest led to significant changes in Mexico, as the Spanish took control by replacing the aztec government, spreading Christianity, and made Spanish the main language. After gaining freedom from Spain in 1821, Mexico struggled to create a stable government and eventually became a republic in 1824. Overtime, slavery was ended, the Catholic Church has less control and education improments were made. The Mexican Revolution in 1910-1920 also resulted in more changes for example, better rights for workers and farmers. Today Mexico is an equal country with mix indigenous, Spanish, and newer cultures, showing how much the country has changed since the aztec empire.

References:

.https://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/inventions/5-ancient-aztec-inventions.htm

.https://nawa.gov.pl/snapy/how-has-the-language-of-the-aztecs-changed

.https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/aztec-civilization#:~:text=By%20the%20end%20of%20the,still%20live%20in%20Mexico%20today.

Continuity in Mexico from Aztec Empire

hayleycollins01 — 2025-09-25 23:32:57 UTC

After the Aztec Empire ended, many important traditions stayed the same in Mexico. The Nahuatl language was still spoken by many indigenous people and also influenced the Spanish language. Farming methods like chinampas, which are small man-made islands used for growing crops, continued to be used. Local community groups such as calpullis still managed land and daily life, even under Spanish control. Some indigenous leaders kept their power by working with the Spanish and supporting their people. Many Aztec religious beliefs were the same as Catholics, creating a new culture that combined both old and new traditions. Another tradition that remained the same was the Aztec capital. Although Tenochtitlan was destroyed during the Spanish conquest, it was later rebuilt as Mexico City. These examples show how Aztec traditions continued even after the fall of the empire.

References:

.https://library.norwood.vic.edu.au/aztecs/legacyofcolonisation#:~:text=By%20August%20of%201521%2C%20the,fight%20for%20independence%20in%201810.

.https://www.thearchaeologist.org/blog/chinampas-the-ancient-aztec-floating-gardens-that-hold-promise-for-future-urban-agriculture