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Apr 10, 1325
Aztecs arrive in the valley of Mexico
They first settled on Chapultepec, on the west shore of Lake Texcoco. -
Apr 10, 1345
Tenochtitlan is Established (Continued)
On lake Texcoco, the Aztecs built chinampas (floating islands for farming) to grow crops. -
Apr 10, 1345
Tenochtitlan is established
The Aztecs believed that their god, Huitzilopochtitli, had led them to the valley of Mexico. Mountains surrounded Tenochtitlan; to the Aztecs, mountains were more than just a physical landscape, the were a holy site. The Aztecs believed that the mountains brought you closer to the gods. The temples, The Temple of Mayor was built resemble a mountain, they worshiped their gods by performing human sacrifice on this temple. The Aztecs built aqueducts to move water. -
Apr 10, 1502
Moctezuma becomes leader
Moctezuma II, the 9th emperor of the Aztecs. The name Moctezuma signifies frowning and kingly anger. He was the Great Speaker of Tenochtitlan. He was an industrious and clever ruler. He ruled an empire of 5-6 million people. -
Apr 10, 1519
Cortes arrives in Mexico
Hernan Cortes was the leader of the Spanish expedition. Before striking the Aztec empire, he established a town on the coast of Mexico and declared and independant governmant. This proved his loyality to King Carlos I rather than Velazquez. He sent one ship to Spain with all of his treasure and sank the other ten ships. This made it impossible for any soldiers, loyal to Velazquez, to defect his expedition and return to Cuba. -
Apr 10, 1520
Moctezuma killed
No one is sure how Moctezuma died. He may have been killed by the Spanish when they felt he was no longer useful. Other sources claim he was killed by his own people. He most likely died disgraced in June 1520. -
Apr 11, 1520
Unequal Fight
The Spanish weapons were deadlier and more advanced than those of the Aztecs. The Spanish weapons were made of steel; the Aztec weapons were made of obsidian glass and wood. The Spanish also had horses that they would approach their victims with, the horses made for a faster and deadlier approach. -
Apr 12, 1520
Smallpox epidemic breaks out
Although unknown, Cortes brought a disease known as smallpox. The Spanish were immune to the disease, unlike the Aztecs. They died a slow and painful death; this decreased the population a lot. With almost everyone dying, the Spanish were able to fight the healthy Aztecs withno problem. -
Apr 10, 1521
Fall of the Aztecs
Between the human sacrifice, disease, and skilled Conquistadors, the Aztecs were easily defeated. -
Apr 10, 1521
Spanish imperialism
The Spanish took the remaining Aztec people and forced them, into a Catholic Faith. The land which once was Tenochtitlan, was also made into Spanish territory. All the gold and resources in Tenochtitlan, were given to the Spanish government to better their wealth. -
Mexico gains independence from Spain
Mexico gained independence from Spain through the Mexican War of Independence. Mexico declared independence and the war between Spain and Mexico started on September 16, 1810.
