ABSTRACT
Between 1518 and 1521, a small Spanish expedition under the command of the ruthless Hernán Cortés landed on the shores of Mexico and proceeded to conquer the indigenous peoples of Mexico, defeating the powerful ruler of the city-state of Tenochtitlan, Moctezuma, and his people (generally known today as the Aztecs). Exploiting not only their military superiority (horses, steel and guns) but also the political divisions among the indigenous peoples to recruit large numbers of Mexican allies, the Spaniards offset their limited numbers. Moctezuma was soon taken prisoner and forced to acknowledge Spanish sovereignty. When the population of Tenochtitlan revolted, Moctezuma was killed and the Spaniards were forced to flee the city, suffering heavy losses. Eventually, however, the Spaniards and their native allies captured Tenochtitlan in 1521 after a long and bloody siege. The conquest of Mexico marked a major milestone in the establishment of a huge American empire controlled by the Spanish Crown.
