The Conquest (1519–1535)
On April 22, 1519, Hernán Cortés landed on the coast of Veracruz with 500 soldiers, 16 horses, and a few cannons. Within just two years, he destroyed the most powerful empire in Mesoamerica — one of the most dramatic episodes in world history.
How was this possible?
- Allies: The subjugated peoples (Tlaxcaltecs, Totonacs) hated the Aztecs and joined Cortés. In the final battle for Tenochtitlán, 200,000 indigenous allies fought on the Spanish side.
- Smallpox: The Europeans brought diseases against which the natives had no immunity. Smallpox killed an estimated 80–90% of the indigenous population within a century — the greatest demographic catastrophe in human history.
- Technology: Steel swords, crossbows, cannons, and horses (unknown in Mesoamerica) gave the Spaniards an advantage.
- La Malinche: An indigenous woman who served as Cortés's translator and advisor (and became his lover). In Mexico, "Malinchismo" is still a derogatory term for someone who betrays their own in favor of the foreign.
On August 13, 1521, Tenochtitlán fell after 75 days of siege. The Spaniards systematically destroyed the city and built Mexico City on its ruins — the cathedral stands on the foundations of the Aztec main temple. Three centuries of the Viceroyalty of New Spain followed (1535–1821).
Achtung
The Conquest is a sensitive topic. For the descendants of the indigenous peoples, it was a genocide. The terms "discovery" and "civilization" are viewed critically in Mexico — the culture that was destroyed was highly developed.
