Tenoctitlan

The Spanish Conquest of the Americas

  • 1428

    The triple alliance

    A triple alliance is formed between the cities of Tenochtitlan, Texcoco and Tlacopan and creates the foundation for the Aztec Empire.
  • 1492

    Columbus reaches the Americas

    Columbus reaches the Americas.
  • 1494

    Treaty of Tordesillas

    The Treaty of Tordesillas is signed and the Americas are divided into the Spanish Empire and the Portuguese Empire.
  • 1502

    Columbus meets Mayan vassals

    Columbus meets advanced traders who are likely to be Mayan.
  • 1507

    America was given its name

    The land discovered by Columbus was named 'America' by cartographer Martin Waldseemüller in honour of Amerigo Vespucci.
  • 1517

    The Francisco Hernández de Córdoba expedition

    In the Francisco Hernández de Córdoba expedition, three ships explore the Yucatan. A multitude of Spanish people are killed in skirmishes.
  • 1519

    Cortes fights Maya of Potochan

    Cortes and his men fight Maya of Potochan and after winning, Cortes is gifted many things including an enslaved girl called Malinali but is better known as Malinche, Cortes' precious interpreter and the mother of one of his children.
  • 1520

    Cortes in Tenochtitlan

    Cortes and his allies fight the Aztecs and Montezuma, the Aztec ruler, is killed during this time. Cortes and his allies are then leave Tenochtitlan. The bubonic plague spreads through Tenochtitlan now as well and this causes thousands of deaths.
  • 1521

    Cortes and the Spaniards try to take over Tenochtitlan

    The Spaniards return to Tenochtitlan and besiege it as well as cut off the water to it. They also attempt to enter the city but end up making the decision of destroying it. The Spanish successfully destroy the city and come out victorious in the battle for Tenochtitlan.
  • 1530

    Francisco Pizarro and the Inca Empire

    Francisco Pizarro, the Spanish conquistador, discovered the Inca Empire.
  • 1532

    Francisco Pizzaro returns to invade the Inca Empire

    Francisco Pizzaro return to the Inca Empire with a small army and captures the Inca ruler. The empire's capital, Cuzco, is owned by the Spanish in the following year.
  • 1572

    The entirety of the Inca Empire is defeated by the Spanish

    The entirety of the Inca Empire is defeated by the Spanish and the resistance to Spanish colonisation in South America is put to an end.