[[Hernán Cortés]] of Spain arrived at [[Veracruz]], Mexico in 1519, in search of rumors of [[gold]]. Cortés led an army of [[conquistadores]] ([[Spanish language|Spanish]] for 'conquerors') on a march towards Tenochtitlán. After being recieved into the city by the Aztec Emperor [[Moctezuma II]] (who may have believed Cortés to be a manifestation of the god [[Quetzalcoatl]] fufilling an ancient prophecy of return), Cortés and his men witnessed a bloody sacrifice ritual. Horrified at this, the Spaniards attacked the Aztec priests. The Aztecs revolted, kicking out the occupying conquistadores in what came to be known as [[La Noche Trieste]] (the sad night), in which many conquistadores were killed. Cortés regrouped, and by 1521 had conquered the entire empire. | [[Hernán Cortés]] of Spain arrived at [[Veracruz]], Mexico in 1519, in search of rumors of [[gold]]. Cortés led an army of [[conquistadores]] ([[Spanish language|Spanish]] for 'conquerors') on a march towards Tenochtitlán. After being recieved into the city by the Aztec Emperor [[Moctezuma II]] (who may have believed Cortés to be a manifestation of the god [[Quetzalcoatl]] fufilling an ancient prophecy of return), Cortés and his men witnessed a bloody sacrifice ritual. Horrified at this, the Spaniards attacked the Aztec priests. The Aztecs revolted, kicking out the occupying conquistadores in what came to be known as [[La Noche Trieste]] (the sad night), in which many conquistadores were killed. Cortés regrouped, and by 1521 had conquered the entire empire. |