Hernan Cortes Thesis

Taylan Swainston

Miss Toone

Language Arts 3

14 December 2022

Hernan Cortes: the Man Who Changed the World

“Cortes was a leader capable of taking both utterly ruthless decisions & extravagant gambles”(Cartwright 4). Hernan Cortes was a Spanish conquistador responsible for the attack on Tenochtitlan and the fall of the Aztec empire in the early 1500s. He used superior technology and strategies to gain victory against the Aztecs. He was an important figure in society and helped build the world to what it is now, because he had a very ambitious and destructive life, conquered much of Mexico, and wiped out a major ancient empire.

Firstly, Hernan Cortes had a life filled with ambition and destruction. Hernan Cortes was a Spanish Conquistador, born

Soon, Diego Valezquez, the governor of Cuba, planned a trip to mainland Mexico. Not knowing what he did, he put Cortes in command of it. World History Encyclopedia states that, “At the last minute, wary of the scale of Cortés' preparations, Velásquez tried to recall his lieutenant, but it was too late.”(Cartwright) Velasquez, at the last minute, had canceled Hernan’s expedition, but Hernan went anyway. Soon after arriving in Mexico, Hernan took extreme measures to follow through with this expedition. History quotes, “According to some accounts, he sunk all but one of his ships before sending the intact one back to Spain. There would be no retreat for his men, only conquest.”(History.com editors) Hernan was so committed to this expedition that he made it impossible for anyone to leave. World History Encyclopedia states, “Cortés then displayed his mastery of diplomacy and managed to persuade the Tlaxcalans to join him in his war against the Aztecs.” Cortes, through diplomacy and a united enemy, gained thousands of allies to attack the Aztecs with. Through conquest, disputes, and war, Hernan Cortes fulfilled his life in his quest to take

Brittanica shares that, “Cortés entered the city on November 8, 1519, with his small Spanish force and only 1,000 Tlaxcaltecs.”Hernan now entered the Aztec capital, and prepared for war. History quotes, “Seizing his chance, Cortés took Montezuma hostage and his soldiers raided the city.” Cortez now took over Tenochtitlan, and it wasn’t a long or hard fight for the Spanish before they won. On August 13, 1521, the Aztec empire fell and Cortez won. Brittanica states, “Cortés had become the absolute ruler of a huge territory extending from the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean.” Hernan now controlled almost all of modern day Mexico after defeating the Aztecs. Hernan conquered a multitude of land in his defeat of the Aztecs, marking the greatest accomplishment of his