Who Led the Spanish Conquest of Mexico?

Hernán Cortés: Conquistador of the Aztec Empire

The Spanish conquest of Mexico was led by Hernán Cortés, who arrived in 1519.

• Defeated the Aztec Empire by 1521.
• Established Spanish colonial rule (New Spain).
• Introduced European culture, religion, language.
• Profound, lasting impact on the region and its peoples.