Cortes and the Aztecs

Hernán Cortés was a Spanish explorer and conquistador who led an expedition to Mexico in the early 16th century. He is most known for his interactions with the Aztecs, an advanced Mesoamerican civilization. Upon arriving in Mexico, Cortés and his troops were initially welcomed by the Aztec ruler, Montezuma II. However, relations quickly soured due to a combination of cultural misunderstandings, brutal Spanish treatment of the Aztecs, and Montezuma's perceived weakness in dealing with the invaders. A turning point came when Cortés took Montezuma hostage, using him to control the Aztec people. This eventually led to an uprising and the subsequent fall of the Aztec Empire. Cortés's actions marked the start of European colonization of the New World and the end of the Aztec civilization. His encounters with the Aztecs have been widely studied, often being viewed as a symbol of the conflict between indigenous cultures and European colonizers.