Cortés and the Fall of Tenochtitlan: Aztec Empire Conquered

This episode dives into the stunning conquest of the Aztec Empire by Hernán Cortés and his small band of Spanish adventurers. We follow the story from Cortés's defiant departure from Cuba in 1519 to the dramatic meeting with Emperor Moctezuma II in Tenochtitlan. Key figures include the interpreter and strategist La Malinche, the Tlaxcalan allies who turned the tide, and the tragic Noche Triste (Sad Night) when the Spanish nearly perished. The siege of Tenochtitlan in 1521, aided by smallpox and native alliances, brought down one of the largest cities in the world. We also discuss the immense gold and silver looted, which fueled Spain's global empire, and the profound human cost of this collision of worlds. The episode touches on the role of horses, guns, and disease in the conquest, and the complex legacy of Cortés in Mexican history. #HernánCortés #Tenochtitlan #AztecEmpire #Moctezuma #LaMalinche #Tlaxcala #NocheTriste #Conquistadors #NewSpain #Smallpox #SpanishEmpire #Gold #History #FexingoHistory #Europe #Mexico #Colonialism #1521 Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo