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Period: Feb 11, 1500 to Feb 11, 1521
The Rise and Fall of the Aztecs
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Jan 1, 1502
Omens Occur
A series of evil omens had foretold of calamities to come. A fiery comet crossed the sky. The temple of Huitzilopochtli, the god of war, burst into flames. The Lake of Mexico boiled and rose, flooding into houses -
Apr 1, 1519
Cortés meets Malinche
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Apr 1, 1519
Gifts from Aztecs
Cortes is presented gold and other gifts from Aztec officials -
May 1, 1519
Cortés men try to escape
Some of Cortes' men decide to steal a ship and return to Cuba. Cortes has them executed and sinks the ships to make it impossible to turn back -
Sep 1, 1519
Hernan Cortés Soldiers
50,000 Tlascalans fight the 400 Spaniards and are defeated by the superior Spanish weapons and horses.The Tlascalans provide Cortes with 10,000 warriors for his march on Tenochtitlan. -
Oct 1, 1519
Cortés kills Nobility
Cortes continues on to Cholula and massacres the local nobility, because he suspects them of planning an ambush -
Jun 1, 1520
Moctezuma II Death
Montezuma is killed by the Spanish. Two-thirds of the Spanish and 40,000 Tlaxcalan allies die in battle as they attempt to escape from the city at night -
Jun 1, 1521
Cortés attacks Capital
Cortes attacks Tenochtitlan from three directions at once with 13 new ships. The lake surrounding the city turns red with blood.