A Young Man's Dream
In a small town in Spain called Medellín, a young boy named Hernán Cortés looked up at the stars every night. He dreamed of sailing across the big ocean to find new places and treasures.
"Mama," young Hernán would say, "one day I'll be a great explorer!" His mother smiled, but worried about her adventurous son.
Hernán was different from other kids. While they played in the streets, he read books about brave sailors and far-off lands. He wasn't very tall, but he was smart and brave.
Growing Up Bold
His parents wanted him to be a lawyer. They sent him to a special school when he was fourteen. But Hernán couldn't sit still in class. His mind was always on the sea and adventure.
"Why study old books when there's a whole new world to discover?" he would tell his friends.
Fun Fact: Hernán was only 19 years old when he first left Spain for the New World!
The Big Decision
One day, Hernán heard amazing stories about a place called the New World. Sailors talked about islands with golden beaches and strange new animals. His eyes lit up with excitement!
"This is my chance," he thought. "I must go!"
His parents weren't happy when he told them his plan. But Hernán had made up his mind.
Getting Ready for Adventure
Hernán worked hard to get ready for his big trip. He needed:
• A good sword• Strong clothes• A spot on a ship• Lots of courage
The Journey Begins
On a cool morning in 1504, Hernán stood on the dock. The big ship would take him across the ocean. His heart beat fast with excitement.
"Goodbye, Spain!" he called out as the ship sailed away. "I'll come back a hero!"
The wind filled the sails, and the shore got smaller and smaller. Hernán didn't know it yet, but he was starting one of the biggest adventures in history.
Little did young Hernán know that his dream of adventure would change the world forever. The sea stretched out before him like a giant blue blanket, full of mysteries waiting to be discovered.
The waves rocked the ship back and forth as it sailed toward the New World. Hernán stood at the front of the ship, watching the sun set over the ocean. He imagined all the amazing things he would see and do.
"This is just the beginning," he whispered to himself, as the stars began to twinkle above him. ⭐
The ship sailed on through the night, carrying young Hernán Cortés toward his destiny. His great adventure was just beginning, and the New World was waiting for him across the sea.Landing in Paradise
The warm sun sparkled on the water as Hernán Cortés's ship reached the shores of Mexico. The beach looked like gold, and tall green trees swayed in the breeze.
A New World
"Look at this beautiful land!" Cortés said to his men. The sand felt hot under their boots as they stepped onto the beach. Birds with colorful feathers flew overhead.
Important Moment: Cortés landed at a place called Cozumel in February 1519. This was his first step in Mexico!
Meeting New Friends
Soon, they saw people watching them from the trees. These were the Maya people. They had brown skin and wore beautiful clothes with bright colors.
"Hello!" Cortés called out, waving his hands. He wanted to be friendly. A Maya man stepped forward and smiled.
"Welcome to our land," the Maya man said through a helper who could speak both languages.
Learning New Things
The Maya people showed Cortés and his men many amazing things:
• Their tall pyramid temples that reached up to the sky
• Tasty new foods like corn and chocolate
• Beautiful jewelry made of jade and gold
• Strange ball games they played for fun
Making Plans
As Cortés walked through the Maya villages, he heard stories about a rich and powerful empire called the Aztecs. His eyes grew wide when people told him about their city of gold.
"We must go there," he told his men. But some Maya people warned him that the Aztecs were very strong warriors.
Building Trust
Cortés knew he needed help to reach the Aztec city. He was nice to everyone he met and gave them gifts. Some local tribes didn't like the Aztecs and wanted to help Cortés.
"If we work together," Cortés said to them, "we can all be friends."
Getting Ready
Before starting his journey to find the Aztecs, Cortés did some important things:
He learned about the land and its people. He made maps of the area. He found out which tribes might help him. He gathered food and supplies.
Fun Fact: Cortés brought horses with him. The Maya and Aztec people had never seen horses before!
The Path Ahead
As the sun set on the beach that evening, Cortés looked inland. Somewhere out there was the mighty Aztec empire. He didn't know what adventures waited for him, but he was ready to find out.
"Tomorrow," he said to himself, "we begin our real journey." The stars came out one by one, twinkling like diamonds in the dark sky.
The Maya people watched from their homes as Cortés and his men set up camp on the beach. Everyone wondered what would happen next in this strange meeting of two different worlds.The March Inland
The morning sun rose hot and bright as Cortés and his army started their journey to find the Aztec city. They walked through thick jungle paths, with birds singing in the trees above.
New Friends Join
As they walked, more local people joined them. The Totonac tribe was happy to help Cortés. They didn't like paying taxes to the Aztecs.
"We will show you the way," said the Totonac chief. "Our warriors will fight with you."
Special Helper: A woman named Malinche became very important. She could speak many languages and helped Cortés talk to different tribes.
Tough Climbing
The path got harder as they went up big mountains. The horses had trouble on the steep rocks. Some men got tired and wanted to go back.
"Keep going!" Cortés told them. "Think of the golden city waiting for us!"
Making More Friends
They met many tribes along the way. Some important things happened:
• The Tlaxcala people joined them after a small fight
• They shared food and stories around campfires
• More warriors joined their group every day
• They learned about Aztec strengths and weaknesses
Crossing Big Waters
They came to a big lake with cities floating on it! Small boats called canoes carried people across the water. The soldiers had never seen anything like it.
"Look!" shouted one soldier. "The houses are built right on the water!"
Learning About the Aztecs
Every day, they learned more about the Aztec empire and their leader, Moctezuma:
Important News: The Aztec emperor had many soldiers and lived in a big palace. Some people were scared of him.
Getting Ready for Battle
Cortés knew they would have to fight soon. He made sure everyone was ready:
"Stay together," he told his men. "We are stronger when we work as one team."
The City Appears
Finally, after many days of walking, they climbed one last mountain. At the top, they stopped and stared. There, in a valley below, was the biggest city they had ever seen!
"Tenochtitlán," whispered Malinche. "The city of the Aztecs."
The city sparkled like jewels in the sun. Tall temples reached up to the sky. Markets full of people looked like colorful dots from far away.
Cortés felt his heart beat faster. His long march was almost over. But the hardest part of his journey was about to begin.Meeting the Emperor
The great city of Tenochtitlán shined in the morning light. Cortés and his men walked across a long bridge into the city. Their boots made loud sounds on the wooden planks.
A Royal Welcome
Emperor Moctezuma came out to meet them. He wore bright feathers and gold jewelry that sparkled in the sun. Many nobles walked with him, carrying sweet-smelling flowers.
"Welcome to our city," said Moctezuma through Malinche, who helped them talk to each other.
Amazing Sight: The Spanish soldiers had never seen such a big city. There were stone buildings everywhere and clean streets full of people!
Inside the Palace
Moctezuma took them to his huge palace. The walls were painted with bright colors. Gold decorations were everywhere! The Spanish soldiers couldn't believe their eyes.
"Look at all this treasure!" whispered one soldier to another.
Growing Worries
But Cortés was worried. He saw how many Aztec warriors were in the city. He knew his small army could be in danger. These things made him nervous:
• The Aztecs had many more soldiers than them
• The city was built on water, making it hard to leave quickly
• Some Aztec priests didn't trust the Spanish
• The bridges could be taken away, trapping them
A Bold Plan
Cortés made a big decision. He needed to control Moctezuma to stay safe. When the emperor visited again, Cortés had his men surround him.
Big Change: Moctezuma had to stay in the Spanish quarters. He was still treated like an emperor, but he couldn't leave.
Two Worlds Meet
Life in the city was strange and exciting. The Spanish learned new things every day:
"Their market is bigger than any in Spain!" said one soldier.
"They have gardens floating on the lake!" said another.
Growing Tension
But not everyone was happy. Some Aztec nobles were angry about Moctezuma being held by the Spanish. They started meeting in secret.
Cortés could feel the mood changing. The friendly welcome was turning into quiet anger. Even the air felt heavy with worry.
"We must be careful," Malinche warned Cortés. "The people are getting angry."
Dark Clouds Coming
At night, Cortés would stand on the palace roof and look at the huge city around him. He had found the golden city he dreamed about. But keeping it would be harder than finding it.
The drums in the temple never stopped beating. Their sound echoed across the water, like a warning of troubles to come. Night of Sorrows
Dark clouds gathered over Tenochtitlán. The peaceful days were over. Trouble was coming like a storm. ️
The Fighting Begins
"They're attacking!" a Spanish soldier shouted. Aztec warriors filled the streets. They threw spears and rocks at the palace where Cortés and his men stayed.
Danger Alert: The Aztecs were very angry. They wanted their emperor free and the Spanish gone! ⚔️
Malinche ran to Cortés with news. "The people say you must leave the city now, or they will destroy you all."
A Difficult Choice
Cortés knew they had to escape. But how? The city was built on an island. They needed the bridges to get out. And now, the Aztecs controlled those bridges.
"We must leave at night," Cortés told his men. "When it's dark and quiet."
The Great Escape
That night was very dark. No moon shone in the sky. The Spanish soldiers tried to sneak out of the city. They carried gold and treasures with them.
But the Aztecs were watching! They saw the Spanish trying to leave.
Important Moment: This night became known as "La Noche Triste" - The Sad Night. It changed everything!
Running for Their Lives
Suddenly, drums started beating! Aztec warriors appeared everywhere. They attacked from boats in the water and from the streets.
"Drop the gold!" Cortés shouted. "Save yourselves!"
The soldiers had to choose - carry heavy gold or run faster. Many dropped their treasures into the dark water.
Making New Friends
Cortés and some of his men escaped to land. They were tired and hurt. But they found help from people who didn't like the Aztecs:
• The Tlaxcalans gave them food
• Other tribes offered soldiers to help
• They got medicine for the wounded
• New friends brought weapons and supplies
Planning to Return
Even though they lost the battle, Cortés didn't give up. He started making a new plan. This time, he would bring more men and better weapons.
"We will return," Cortés promised. "And next time, we will be stronger."
Getting Ready Again
Cortés worked hard to get ready. He built special boats to fight on the lake. More Spanish soldiers came to help. Native warriors joined them too.
Big Changes: The Spanish army grew bigger and stronger. They learned from their mistakes.
The drums of war started beating...
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