The Aztec Empire

Aztecs Settle

Jan 1, 1325

In 1325 or 1345 the AZtecs settle in the area of Mexico City. The Aztecs call their settlement Tenochtitlan. This city becomes the captial of htier empire.

The Aztecs

Period: Jan 1, 1325 to Aug 13, 1521

Aztec Sun Rituals

Mar 30, 1400

From 1325 to 1519 the Aztecs performed human sacrifices to please their god Huitzilopochtli. Just before the arrival of the Spaniards the Aztecs were sacrificing up to 50,000 people a year.

Sacrificial Temple Enlarged

Jan 1, 1487

The temple that the Aztec people performed their sacrifices to Huitzilopochtli is enlarged. The ritual of re-dedication takes so many lives that he dead bodies start to pile up outside the city walls.

Cortes Arives in Mexico

Mar 13, 1519

The Spanish conquistador Cortes and 600 men with 11 ships make it to Mexico.

Cortes and Army at Tenochtitlan

Nov 8, 1519

Cortes sinks 10 of his 11 ships so the completion of the mission is of the upmost priority. Cortes and his army marches forward into Mexico he runs into the Tlaxcula people he eventually deafeats them. They continue on and make it to Tenochtitlan where they are greeted and welcomed into the Aztec society.

Cortes Kidnaps Montezuma

Nov 15, 1519

After a week in Tenochtitlan, Cortes makes a plan to kidnap Montezuma the Aztec emperor. The plan works perfectly so the few hundred Spaniards take over the Aztec Empire.

RIval Cuban Exepedition

May 1, 1520

The Cubans launch a exepedition to stop Cortes. Cortes learns of this exepedition and defeats it and leves 80 Spaniards to keep Tenochtitlan in order. The 80 Spaniards lose control of the city.

Cortes Retreats his Army

Jul 17, 1520

Knowing that staying in Tenochtitlan is to dangerous for him and his army Cortes retreats out of Tenochtitlan.

Cortes Conquers Tenochtitlan

Aug 13, 1521

Cortes returns and captures Tenochtitlan at it's weakest. The Aztec Empire has fallen and the conquest of Central Mexico is finished.