Expedition of 1519-1521

The expedition of 1519–1521 was when Spanish explorers, led by Hernán Cortés, traveled from Mexico to Central America with the goal of finding wealth and new lands. They eventually reached the powerful Aztec Empire in present-day Mexico. Despite challenges, Cortés and his allies formed alliances with local tribes and defeated the Aztecs, leading to the empire's fall. This conquest marked the beginning of Spanish colonization in the Americas and greatly impacted indigenous populations and global history through the exchange of cultures, goods, and ideas.