Ninth graders research the reasons to why people want to find the city of El Dorado. In this Spanish exploration lesson, 9th graders read an article and answer guided reading questions. Students present their findings to the...

[Free Registration/Login Required] Lesson in which students examine 13th Century primary source material of historical record to determine what the encounter between Moctezuma and Cortes might have really been like. With downloadable...

An article on the ideas of Juan Donoso Cortes (1809-1853 CE), a political theorist of the 19th century who developed a theory of dictatorship. His ideas influenced another political thinker, Carl Schmitt whose ideas were later used by...

Furnished is a brief summary of the life and explorations of Spanish explorer, Hernando Cortes. Take a look at the photos and maps of his journey of what today is called Mexico.

This site demonstrates the impression that native Mexican people made on Hernando Cortes during his conquest. Includes good discussion questions.

Fordham University gives the text of Cortes' second letter to King Charles V, describing the Aztec capital city, Tenochtitlan, and the people who lived there.

This account of "The Conquest of the Aztec Empire" tells the story of Cortes' encounter with the Aztecs and the fall of the empire.

Learn about the fall of the Aztec Empire. You can use the navigation tool at the left to click into more information on the Aztecs and the Spanish conquest of Cortes. Uses popups.

A biography of Hernando Cortes (or Cortez) (1485 -1547), a Spanish adventurer who conquered what is now central and southern Mexico. His seizure of land, power, and wealth made him the greatest Spanish conqueror in the Americas. His...

Interesting biographical facts on the life of Hernando Cortes, the man who conquered the Aztec empire.

A biography of Gaspar Corte Real (1450-1501) who was born in Angra do Heroismo, on the Island of Terceira in the Azores. He was a Portuguese explorer who explored Greenland and the coast of Newfoundland. This site has a Google widget...

Investigate the biography and life of Spanish explorer and conquistador Hernan Cortes. Read about how he conquered the Aztec Empire.

An image of Henry Cort.

A huge website that provides a virtual field trip exploring the Spanish adventurers who quested for gold and land in the New World. The site has information on Pizarro, Orellana, Cabeza de Vaca, Cortes as well as extensive information...

Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes invaded the Aztec empire in the 16th century. This conquest led to the colonization of Mexico. The Newberry Library provides an in depth look into this period of Mexican history through photos,...

A letter written by Hernando Cortex to King Charles V from Mexico on October 30, 1520.

Fordham University provides an excerpt of an Aztec account of the initial encounter of Montezuma and the Spanish conquistador Hernando Cortes, as published by noted anthropologist Miguel Leon-Portilla. The meeting-turned-massacre,...

A map of Lake Texcoco, showing the Aztec centers in the region at the time of the Spanish conquistadors. The entry route of Cortes into the city of Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital, is designated along with causeways into the city. A few...

An image of Hernan Cortes.

A map showing the expedition of Hernan Cortes in 1519. This expedition was the third to the mainland and took him all the way into Mexico. This map shows the route from the Battle of Cintla (Tabasco) to Veracruz (Villa Rica de la Vera...

A map of Mexico showing the sites of the Spanish Conquistador expedition under Hernan Cortes in 1519. The map shows Juanna (Cuba), Tabasco, Vera Cruz, and Mexico City (Tenochtitlan). An inset map details the route taken by Cortez from...

El Corte Ingles, Placa de Catalunya (Barcelona)

Corte Ducale, Castello Sforzesco (Milan)

cortes