- Hernán Cortés and the Aztec Empire: In 1519, Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés arrived in Mexico with a small force of soldiers and quickly allied with the native Tlaxcalans, who resented Aztec rule. Cortés seized the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan, in 1521, marking the end of the Aztec Empire and the beginning of Spanish rule in Mexico.
- Moctezuma II's Death: The Aztec emperor, Moctezuma II, was initially open to negotiations with Cortés but was later taken captive. During a confrontation between the Aztecs and the Spanish, Moctezuma was killed, further inflaming tensions.
- La Noche Triste (The Night of Sorrows): In June 1520, the Aztecs launched a counterattack against the Spanish, forcing Cortés and his men to retreat from Tenochtitlan. This night of retreat, known as La Noche Triste, was marked by heavy losses for the Spanish.
- Siege of Tenochtitlan: In 1521, Cortés and his allies launched a siege on Tenochtitlan. The siege lasted for several months, with intense fighting and widespread destruction.
- Fall of Tenochtitlan: In August 1521, Tenochtitlan fell to the Spanish. The city was razed, and the Aztecs were defeated, effectively ending the Aztec Empire.
Spanish Conquistadors and Incas
- Francisco Pizarro and the Inca Empire: In 1532, Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro landed in Peru and encountered the vast Inca Empire. Pizarro and his men exploited conflicts within the Inca Empire and formed alliances with certain Inca factions.
- Capture of Atahualpa: In 1532, Pizarro captured the Inca emperor, Atahualpa, at the Battle of Cajamarca. Atahualpa offered a room filled with gold and silver in exchange for his freedom, but the Spanish executed him in 1533.
- Civil War in the Inca Empire: The Incas were further weakened by a civil war between Atahualpa's brother, Huáscar, and his general, Quisquis. This internal conflict made it easier for the Spanish to conquer the Inca Empire.
- Fall of Cusco: In 1533, the Spanish forces led by Pizarro entered the Inca capital, Cusco, and took control of it. Cusco was one of the most significant cities in the Inca Empire and its capture marked a critical moment in the conquest.
- Establishment of Spanish Rule: With the fall of Cusco, the Spanish established their dominance in the region, and the Inca Empire eventually disintegrated. The Spanish Empire in the Americas was expanded, and the wealth of the Inca Empire became a significant source of resources for Spain.