- Hernan Cortes was a conquistador who reached Mexico in 1519
- He and his group were searching for gold
- After arriving, he burned his ships so that his men could not go home
- They had to stay and fight the Aztec warriors
- In the end, Cortes and his men conquered the Aztecs
- Cortes's determination to find gold and his leadership helped him conquer the Aztecs

- Upon hearing of Cortes's arrival, Moctezuma believed him to be a god
-The god Quetzacoatl was to return to Mexico in 1519
- Cortes fit the decription of Quetzacoatl
- Moctezuma sent Cortes gifts (including gold)
- Cortes marched to the Aztec capital and took Moctezuma as a prisoner
- The Aztecs attacked the Spanish and drove them out
- Cortes and his men came back with Indian allies and in 1521, they conquered Tenochtiltlan
- Moctezuma not only ruled the Aztec empire at its height, but he also contributed to its downfall

Hernan Cortes And Moctezuma II