The Siege of Tenochtitlan: Cortés's Deadly Gamble

In this episode, Lucas and Luna delve into the harrowing final months of the siege of Tenochtitlan in 1521, a turning point in the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire. They explore Cortés's brutal tactics, including the use of brigantines to cut off food and water, the devastating smallpox outbreak that decimated the Mexica, and the final desperate defense led by Cuauhtémoc. The conversation highlights key figures like the Tlaxcalan allies and the Spanish captain García Holguín, and examines controversies such as the massacre at the Templo Mayor and the role of disease. Lucas explains how the siege reshaped warfare in the New World, combining European siege techniques with Indigenous alliances. The episode also touches on the cultural shock of the city's fall, the looting of gold, and the long-term consequences for Mesoamerica. A gripping look at one of history's most decisive and brutal conquests. #SiegeOfTenochtitlan #CortS #CuauhtMoc #Aztec #Mexica #Tlaxcala #Brigantines #Smallpox #TemploMayor #Conquest #Mesoamerica #1521 #SpanishEmpire #Warfare #History #FexingoHistory #Podcast #Colonialism #Conquistadors #HernanCortes Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo