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Article: Conquering the Aztec.
- Article from:
- Junior Scholastic
- Article date:
- September 17, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 Scholastic, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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In less than two years, Hernando Cortes defeated the mighty Aztec empire
Who is this strange-looking bearded creature? That's what the Aztec Indians wondered when they first saw Hernando Cortes (kawr-TEHZ).
Cortes landed in Mexico in 1519, with his army of conquistadors (kahn-KEES-tuh-dawrz), or conquerors. An Aztec legend promised the return, in that same year, of an ancient god who would arrive from the east.
Montezuma II, the Aztec emperor, believed at first that Cortes might be this god of legend, and gave him lavish gifts. But Montezuma soon changed his mind.
Hungry for fame and adventure, Cortes had come in search of gold and ...