Aztec Invasion

Cortes sails for Mexico from Cuba

Feb 1, 1519

This was important because it showed Cortes' determination to explore Mexico.

Tlaxcalans attack the Spanish

Jun 21, 1519

This was a important because it showed how the Tlaxcalans cared about their society to take on the Spanish.. Tlaxcalans disliked the Aztecs and attacked the Spanish at first, getting held off by guns and steel amour. This led to the next event.

Tlaxcalans make an alliance with the Spanish.

Jun 21, 1519

This was important because it led showed how the Tlaxcalans made an alliance with the Spanish to conquer someone they both disliked, Aztecs.

Moctezuma and Cortes Meet

Nov 8, 1519

This was important because it showed how Cortes and Moctezuma met. Cortes had a fearsome reputation, wanting to meet with Moctezuma, emperor of Tenochtilan. Cortes sent messages saying that he was coming in peace and wished to meet the emperor to extend his greetings, with the help of La Malinche.

Cortes Takes Moctezuma Hostage

Nov 15, 1519

This was important because it showed how Cortes took Moctezuma for granted ( he treated Cortes like royalty), decieved him, and took him hostage. Advisors of Moctezuma were disgusting that he had let the Spanish into the city. They were also disgusted that he was allowing them to set up statues of the Spanish Religion.

The Spanish Massacre Thousands of Aztecs While Preparing for Their Religious Festival

May 15, 1520

This was important because it showed Pedro de Alvardo's strategy for attacking the Aztec and how some of the Aztec population went down. Aztecs were outraged that the Spanish had massacred the unarmed worshippers. Nobles and priests were killed.

The Spanish Retreat After the Aztecs Gather Arms.

May 15, 1520

This was important because it showed how the Aztecs cared about their people and the disruption of the fesival that honoured their god Huitzilopochtli. After the massacre, the Aztecs were outrages, gathering their arms and fought ferociously. This made the Spanish retreat to Cortes's palance away from the entire city. Now there was not a single chance of a peaceful agreement between the Spanish and the Aztec.

Moctezuma Dies

May 16, 1520

This was important because it showed how the trust of Moctezuma quickly turned to hatredby his own people. Moctezuma was ordered by Cortes to speak to his people and persuade them to calm down, letting the Spanish return to peace. Doing this, he was jeered and seriously injured by stones thrown at him. He died a few days later.

The Spanish Attempt to Escape Tenochtitlan but are Stopped By the Aztecs- Later Referred to as the Noche Triste

Jun 1, 1520

This was important because it showed how the Aztecs decided to attack the Spanish instead of letting them go, showing how much they hated them. Spanish tried to escape in the middle of the night to make their way to the coast. The Aztecs spotted them crossing the causeways and decided to attack. 700 Spanish and 2000 to 3000 Tlaxcalans were killed. This huge loss of life was referred to as the Noche Triste.

The Aztecs Begin to Die From Smallpox

Nov 16, 1520

This is important because it showed how diseases were easy carried to other places. The Aztecs began dying from a disease called smallpox that was brought by the Spanish. Since the Aztec were newly exposed to the disease, they had no time to build resistance against it unlike the Spanish, who developed some immunity. During the last five months, Cortes, the conquistadors, and the Tlaxcalans retreated to recover their wounds.

The Spanish Form a Second Attack on the Now weakened Aztecs

Nov 17, 1520

This was important because it showed the Spanish strategy, which was to attack the Aztecs while they're weak. Cortes returned to Tenochtitlan with his allies, the Tlaxcalans and the warriors of Texcoco (members who once formed the Triple Alliance), who now turned against the Aztecs seeing strength in the Spanish. Aztecs had difficulty defending against the Spanish, having no more allies and suffered from smallpox. They withstood the seige for 75 days.

The Last Group of Aztecs Surrender

Aug 13, 1521

This is important because it showed how the Spanish took over the Aztecs. Cuauhtemotoc, the Aztec huey tlaoani after Moctezuma died, was taken prisoner and hanged. Now, the Aztec Empire was no more.

Cortes Becomes Governor and Captain-General of New Spain

Jan 1, 1522

This is important because it showed Cortes's determination to take over the Aztecs paid off, for he is now the goveror and captain-general of New Spain. The Spanish destroyed the city once the seige ended.