| Date / Evidence | Significance |
|---|---|
| 1428 | Triple Alliance formed — the foundation of Aztec imperial power |
| Feb 1519 | Cortés lands on the Mexican coast with ~500 soldiers |
| Sept 1519 | Tlaxcalan alliance secured — the decisive shift in the war |
| Nov 1519 | Spanish enter Tenochtitlan; Moctezuma taken hostage |
| June–July 1520 | La Noche Triste — Spanish expelled from Tenochtitlan |
| Late 1520 | Smallpox epidemic hits Tenochtitlan; kills emperor Cuitláhuac |
| May–Aug 1521 | Siege of Tenochtitlan (75–80 days); city falls 13 August 1521 |
| 1522 | New Spain established; Cortés becomes governor |
| 25 million → c.1 million | Central Mexican population collapse within a century of conquest (c.1519–1620) |
| ~200,000 indigenous allies | Tlaxcalan + other forces fighting alongside fewer than 1,000 Spaniards |
This key facts covers 📋 Key Dates and Evidence within Aztecs and the Spanish Conquest, 1519-1535 for GCSE History. Revise Aztecs and the Spanish Conquest, 1519-1535 in Component Group 5 — World Depth Studies for GCSE History with 14 exam-style questions and 17 flashcards. This topic appears less often, but it can still be a useful differentiator on mixed-topic papers. It is section 5 of 14 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Practice questions for Aztecs and the Spanish Conquest, 1519-1535
Describe two features of the Aztec Empire in 1519.
Describe two features of Hernán Cortés's expedition to Mexico in 1519.
Quick recall flashcards
What was La Noche Triste and what happened?
The 'Night of Sorrows' (30 June–1 July 1520). While Cortés was away, Aztec warriors rose against the Spanish garrison; Moctezuma II was killed (by Spanish or his own people — disputed). The Spanish fled in chaos across the causeways, with hundreds drowning weighed down by stolen gold. It was a major Spanish defeat.
Describe Cortés's expedition to Mexico in 1519.
Cortés landed in February 1519 with approximately 500 soldiers, 16 horses, and cannon. He had defied the governor of Cuba (Velázquez) who tried to cancel the expedition. He famously scuttled (or beached) his ships to prevent his men deserting, cutting off retreat and forcing commitment to the conquest.