Cortés Arrives

Spanish explorers heard all about the Aztec. The Aztec had just what the Spanish leader, Hernán Cortés, wanted— land and gold.

Cortés wasn’t just an explorer. He was a conquistador. Conquistadors conquered land for Spain, a country in Europe. Cortés wanted to add Mexico to the Spanish Empire.

He wanted Aztec gold as well. Many Mexicans promised to help Cortés fight the Aztec. So Cortés decided to lead his army into the center of the Aztec Empire.

Cortés’s Route to Mexico

Interpret the Map What bodies of water did Cortés cross to get to Tenochtitlán? What directions did he travel?

Wonder and Welcome

The Spaniards reached the Aztec capital on November 8, 1519. They found themselves facing thousands of curious eyes. The Aztec examined the Spanish explorers closely. To them, the explorers seemed very different.

For example, the strange visitors appeared to be made of glowing metal. That’s because sunlight reflected off their armor.

The Aztec stared especially hard at the visitors’ horses. These animals were new to the Aztec. Some even wondered if horse and rider were a single, giant monster.

Despite their confusion, the Aztec welcomed the Spanish. The Aztec king, Moctezuma, even swapped gifts with Cortés. To the Aztec that meant the two men were friends.

What Moctezuma didn’t know was that Cortés was a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He wanted more than gifts.