The story of how a few hundred gold-crazed Spaniards conquered a force 10,000 times their size is one of the most dramatic and surprising in all of history. Hernán Cortés, a Spanish adventurer, was able to overwhelm 5 million Aztec warriors, kidnap and kill their kings, and plunder their treasure, all in the space of a couple of years. Despite all of its achievements, Montezuma's Aztec Empire was no match for the armored conquistadors from across the sea.
After you study this slideshow, research how much land Cortés and his men were able to grab after defeating the Aztecs, and add it to your thematic map. Make sure you label the important dates and places from this famous battle.
Bad Company
Montezuma wanted to keep an eye on his new guests, so against the wishes of his advisers, he invited Cortés and his men to stay in his palace. This would turn out to be a fatal mistake. Cortés's men quickly kidnapped Montezuma and occupied his castle.
The Death of Montezuma
Cortés demanded a huge ransom of gold for the release of Montezuma, which the Aztec people paid. Still, Montezuma would never taste freedom again. He became a puppet of the conquistadors, and when he failed to convince the Aztec people to accept Spanish rule, Cortés had Montezuma killed.
A Temporary Victory
With their leader dead and their capital overrun, the Aztecs finally decided to fight back against the Spanish. They were able to chase Cortés and his men from Tenochtitlan on July 1st, 1520. But the invaders wouldn't stay gone for long.
New Spain
Cortés regrouped and fought his way back to Tenochtitlan, capturing the city on August 13th, 1521, after a brutal and bloody battle. With this foothold in place, the Spanish were in America to stay. By the 18th century, Spain had colonized all of Central America, and a large part of North and South America.
Question
Why was the invasion of Cortés such a significant turning point in Latin American history?