Cortes and the Conquest of the Aztecs.
             The Spanish Conquest of the Aztecs stands as one of the most
             significant and influential turning points of the western world. It opened
             the way for European colonization and brought forth vast changes on the
             new world that are still felt today. It changed the culture, religion, and
             entire way of life for the inhabitants and descendants of the entire region
             Since the late 1400's Spanish explorers had been charting and
             claiming parts of the new world for the throne of Spain. One of these
             explorers was Hernando Cortes, who first came to the new world at the
             age of nineteen to seek out his fortune. Cortes was born in Medellin,
             Spain in 1485. At the age of fourteen he went to the University of
             Salamanca to study law, but showed little interest in his studies. He first
             sailed to the new world in 1504. He received a grant of land to farm and
             also became a notary due to his legal training. He often went out on
             expeditions to put down native rebellions, which familiarized him with the
             tactics of the natives. After taking part in the conquest of Cuba, Cortes
             became the mayor of Santiago. This, however, did not satisfy the gold
             hungry Cortes. On February 10, 1519 Cortes set off on an expedition into
             Mexico that consisted of 508 swordsmen, 100 sailors, 32 crossbowmen,
             11 musketeers, 10 brass canons, 4 small canons, 16 horses, and a number
             of dogs. Cortes's first challenge was to pick up translators that could
             interpret the strange language of the natives. After defeating a small
             group of natives near present day Tobasco, the Spaniards were given gifts
             of gold and twenty women. One of the women spoke Mayan and Nahuatl,
             the language of the Aztecs. Cortes also picked up a Spanish prisoner who
             could speak Mayan. So when Cortes landed near the present day city of
             Veracruz, he had a translation team capable of commun
             ...