Book: La conquista de México

Intro
"La conquista de México" is a historic account of the conquest of Mexico written by Hernán Cortés, the Spanish conqueror that led the exploration that resulted in the autumn of the Aztec Realm. The book is based on letters Cortés sent out to the Spanish king Charles V detailing the events and conquests that happened during the Spanish occupation of Mexico from 1519 to 1521.

The Journey to Mexico
Cortés' journey to Mexico began in 1519 when he cruised from Cuba with around 500 men and 11 ships. Upon arriving in Mexico, he came across various native people, each having various mindsets in the direction of the Spanish invaders. Some people allied themselves with the Spanish, while others freely resisted.

Cortés initially came across the Totonacs, who invited him as they believed the Spanish can help them finish their tributary connection with the effective Aztecs. It went to this factor that Cortés began to find out more regarding the Aztec Empire, its personalizeds, and its potentially enormous riches.

The Alliance with the Tlaxcalans
In his quest for allies to topple the Aztec Empire, Cortés built a vital alliance with the Tlaxcalans, an effective native team that had actually long been hostile to the Aztecs. The Tlaxcalans supplied valuable military assistance for the Spanish in their fights versus the Aztec forces. This partnership was crucial for Cortés, as without it, he may not have had the ability to conquer Mexico.

First Encounter with Moctezuma
Cortés and his pressures got in Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital, in November 1519. They were gotten by Moctezuma, the Aztec emperor, who believed the site visitors to be divine agents of the god Quetzalcoatl. To exploit this belief, Cortés took Moctezuma captive, efficiently taking control of the entire Aztec Empire.

Nonetheless, Cortés' control of the city was temporary, as his second-in-command, Pedro de Alvarado, assaulted the Aztec population during a spiritual event, leading to prevalent physical violence and also unrest.

The Noche Triste
In June 1520, news got to Cortés that a Spanish military, led by Panfilo de Narvaez, had been sent out to jail him as he was dominating Mexico without official approval. Cortés marched to the coastline to face Narvaez, leaving Tenochtitlan under the control of Pedro de Alvarado. The Aztec people rebelled against the Spanish, and when Cortés returned, the Aztec pressures assaulted his military. The taking place battle occurred on June 30, 1520, and is referred to as "La Noche Triste" or "The Sad Night", as the Spanish forces were required to retreat, enduring heavy casualties.

After collecting yourself, Cortés signed up with pressures with the troops sent to arrest him, and with each other they marched on Tenochtitlan for the second time, this moment with a larger military.

The Siege of Tenochtitlan
In May 1521, Cortés launched a siege on Tenochtitlan, which lasted for almost three months. The Spanish forces, aided by native allies, bordered the city, cutting off food and water supplies. The Aztec Empire was weakened by interior dissonance and food shortages, which made it progressively hard for them to stand up to the Spanish onslaught.

The Fall of the Aztec Empire
Tenochtitlan ultimately fell on August 13, 1521, signaling the end of the Aztec Empire. The Spanish pressures and their indigenous allies had triumphed versus frustrating probabilities. Cortés not only beat the Aztec Empire, yet also handled to survive against pressures that sought to finish his exploration.

"La conquista de México" is an important work that offers firsthand accounts of the Spanish occupation of Mexico and also the fall of the Aztec Empire. It provides beneficial insights into the approaches and also partnerships that Cortés formed throughout his trip, eventually leading to the success of one of the most considerable turning points in globe history.