- Triple Alliance
- The alliance between Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, and Tlacopan (1428) that formed the basis of Aztec imperial power.
- Tenochtitlan
- The Aztec capital, built on an island in Lake Texcoco; population c.200,000 in 1519 — one of the largest cities in the world at that time.
- Encomienda
- A Spanish colonial system granting settlers rights over indigenous labour and tribute; exploitative in practice, approaching enslavement.
- La Malinche (Malintzin)
- Indigenous Nahuatl speaker who served as Cortés's interpreter and diplomatic adviser; her role is still debated by historians.
- La Noche Triste
- "The Night of Sorrows" (30 June–1 July 1520) — the night the Spanish were driven from Tenochtitlan, losing hundreds of men.
- Tlaxcalans
- Indigenous people of Tlaxcala who had resisted Aztec domination; became the Spanish forces' most important military allies.
- Cuauhtémoc
- The last Aztec emperor, who led resistance during the siege of Tenochtitlan; surrendered 13 August 1521; later tortured and executed in 1525.
- Bartolomé de las Casas
- Dominican friar and later bishop who campaigned against the brutal treatment of indigenous people, writing the Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies (1542).
This definitions covers 📖 Key Terms 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 9 of 14 in this topic. Make sure you can use the exact wording confidently, because definition marks are often lost through vague language.
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.