Summary of 🇲🇽La Caída de TENOCHTITLAN el fin del Imperio Azteca - Sitio de Tenochtitlan 1521

00:00:00 - 00:10:00

The video discusses the fall of Tenochtitlan, which was the capital of the Aztec Empire in Mesoamerica. Hernán Cortés and his expedition arrived in 1519, forming an alliance with the Tlaxcaltecas to march towards Tenochtitlán. Despite initial friendly beginnings, tensions arose, and locals revolted. The siege of Tenochtitlán began in May of 1521, with a force of around 1,300 Spanish soldiers and more than 200,000 allied soldiers from neighboring tribes. The battles were intense, and after more than two months, the situation was terrible for both sides. Finally, the city fell, and the Tlaxcaltecas attacked the population. Around 200,000 Aztecs died, and with the end of the battle, the Aztec Empire fell, starting the conquest that lasted more than 300 years and was never entirely successful.

• 00:00:00 In this section, the transcript discusses the antecedents leading up to the fall of Tenochtitlán. Hernán Cortés arrived in April 1519 with his expedition and encountered the most powerful group in Mesoamerica, the Aztecs, who demanded high tributes and waged constant wars. Cortés formed an alliance with the Tlaxcaltecas to march towards Tenochtitlán, where they were marveled by the great constructions, canal system, clean streets, and the zoo of Moctezuma. Despite friendly beginnings, tensions arose when Cortés took Moctezuma and members of his family captive, leading to a massacre in the city. When Cortés left the city to fight off another group, the locals revolted and a new leader, Cuitláhuac, prepared to expel the Spanish. Cortés escaped, but the battle known as the Night of Sorrows led to the death of many Spanish soldiers, the loss of a majority of the stolen treasure and a fleeing Spanish army. Cortés regrouped with allies and defeated the Aztecs in the Battle of Otumba before making his way back to Tenochtitlán.
• 00:05:00 In this section, it is described how the siege of Tenochtitlan began in May of 1521, with a force of around 1,300 Spanish soldiers and more than 200,000 allied soldiers from neighboring tribes. The Spanish achieved victories in battles and strengthened alliances with these tribes in the months leading up to the siege. The Spanish also cut off the city's water supply, which was mostly obtained through acueducts originating from Chapultepec. The siege was fought on both land and water, with the Spanish using cannons on their ships to bombard the walls of the city. The Spanish employed new tactics, such as camping on the bridges and having their horses sleep standing up, to prevent the Aztecs from retaking the bridges at night. The battles were intense, with both sides suffering heavy losses. In one instance, Cortes himself was captured but managed to escape. The Aztecs captured around 60 Spanish soldiers who were later sacrificed to Huitzilopochtli, the god of war.
• 00:10:00 In this section, the transcript discusses the final attack on Tenochtitlan, which was an urban battle fought on the streets, houses, fortresses, canoes of the lake, pyramids, and temples. The conditions were horrible as thousands of people died every day due to continuous combat, hunger, consumption of impure water, and disease, causing more damage than the battle. After more than two months of siege, the situation was terrible for both sides, but the Spanish and their allies managed to take control of the food market, further weakening the Aztecs. Finally, the city fell, and the Tlaxcaltecas attacked the population, killing both warriors and civilians. Cortés then escaped with his family, treasures, and some soldiers, only to be captured later. More than 800 Spaniards and 40,000 allies died in combat, while 50,000 died from disease and hunger. The Aztec population, on the other hand, suffered around 200,000 deaths. With the end of the battle, the Aztec Empire fell, starting the conquest that lasted more than 300 years and was never entirely successful.