86
1500–1700
The Aztec Empire began in 1428 as
an alliance of three city-states in what
is now central Mexico, but by the time
the treasure-seeking Conquistadores
of Spain arrived in 1519, the lake city of
Tenochtitlán was dominant. In August
some 600 Spanish, led by Hernán Cortés,
marched on the city, nding many local allies along the way who
were disaected with Aztec rule. Cortés’s army was welcomed
into the city, where the Spanish took the Aztec emperor
Moctezuma II hostage. For several months the Spanish ruled
the city until a revolt sent them eeing.
After building alliances in the Aztec hinterlands and gathering
local forces, Cortés returned to Tenochtitlán to lay siege. A eet of
specially built ships supported his soldiers ghting their way across
the three main causeways that linked the city to the edge of Lake
Texcoco. Already ravaged by smallpox, the Aztecs nally collapsed
to the Spanish forces’ superior weapons and command structure
after 79 days of resistance on August 13, 1521. Tenochtitlán was
sacked and its monuments destroyed, bringing an end to the
Aztec Empire and establishing Spanish rule in Central America
and Spanish as the lingua franca of the region.
Siege of Tenochtitlán
1521
◼
VALLEY OF MEXICO
◼
AZTEC EMPIRE VS. SPANISH EMPIRE
SPANISH CONQUEST OF THE AZTEC EMPIRE
4
SPANISH MAP OF
TENOCHTITLÁN, 1521
The Aztec capital stood on
an island on the western
side of Lake Texcoco, and was
connected to shore by three main
causeways. At its height, the city
boasted at least 200,000 inhabitants
and had magnicent architecture, including
a central pyramid, the Templo Mayor. It was a
busy market for slaves, turquoise, and gold.
Templo Mayor
Iztapalapa
causeway
Lake
Texcoco
City of
Tenochtitlán
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87
SIEGE OF TENOCHTITLÁN
◼
1521
3
CAUSEWAY FIGHTING
In the battle to
force their way across the causeways, the
Spanish were supported by 13 boats, each
carrying 12 oarsmen, 12 crossbowmen and
musketeers, and a captain. The Aztecs’
padded cotton armor and reed shields
were useless against guns and crossbow
bolts, while Spanish artillery battered the
city walls. Even so, the Aztecs successfully
repelled the Conquistadores’ initial attacks.
I and my companions suer from
a disease of the heart that can
be cured only with gold.
HERNÁN CORTÉS TO THE ENVOYS OF MONTEZUMA II, EXPLAINING
THE MOTIVES OF HIS CONQUEST, 1519
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