2.  www.bbc.co.uk/historic_figures/cortes_h ernan.shtml www.bbc.co.uk/historic_figures/cortes_h ernan.shtml  Library.thinkquest.org/4034/cortes.html

3.  Cortes was a Spanish conquistador, who conquered the Aztec Empire.  He was born in 1945 in Medellin, Spain and studied law at age 14.  Cortes decided to leave the university to pursue the new world.

4.  In1504, Cortes sailed to Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic).  In 1511, Cortes moved to Cuba to assist Diego Velazquez  In 1518, Cortes persuaded Velazquez (governor of Cuba) to make him commander of an expedition to Mexico.  Although Velazquez canceled Cortes’ trip when he found out his motives, Cortes took more than 500 men and 11 ships off to Mexico.  Cortes’ goal was to look for gold in Mexico, because it was rumored to have great wealth.

5.  On his journey to Mexico, Cortes stopped at the Dominican Republic and Cuba. After he fled from Cuba without permission he sailed to Mexico.

6.  His voyage was financed by the King of Spain.  Cortes took more than 500 men and 11 ships on his voyage to Mexico.  This affected his trip, because he was able to fight against the Aztec people and be successful.

7.  In 1519, Cortes arrived in Mexico and marched to Tenochititlan (capital of Aztec Empire and modern day Mexico City). While in the capital city, he took the leader, Montezuma II, hostage and raided the city for its wealth. Once Cortes heard the Spanish troop were after him, he fled from the Empire. As soon as Cortes and his men fought off the Spaniards, he returned to the Aztec capital and fought the Aztecs. After successfully beating the Aztecs in 1521, he took over Tenochititlan. In 1522, he was appointed the governor of “New Spain” by King Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire and later founded Mexico City. Cortes’ exploration was important, because he founded a new city and conquered an ancient civilization.