Timeline: Jouney of the Aztecs

Jul 18, 1100

The Journey Begins

The Aztec people listened to their god and packed up their belongings to begin a journey to their new home. The problem was they were not sure where their new home would be. On their journey they were looking for a sign, going in hope.

Jul 18, 1195

Valley of Mexico

The Aztecs arrive in the Valley of Mexico

Jul 18, 1250

Finding a Home

When the Aztec people finally settled the only land available to them was near Lake Texcoco. This land was not suitable for farming but the Aztec people were very creative. Read the 3rd paragraph to this link.

Jul 18, 1325

A Place to Worship

The Aztec people were settled and ready to move forward with their way of life. Temples were an important aspect in their relgious life. The Aztec people beleived that the higher they were the closer they were to their gods. This is the year they built their first temple.

Jul 18, 1350

Causeways

The Aztec people built causeways that allowed them to travel to their island home. The structure was designed so the Aztec people could take them down if war was present. This would keep their enemy out. The Aztec had to use canoes for transportation around their home since they were surrounded by water.

Jul 18, 1452

Flood

Tenochtitlan is severly damaged by flooding

Jul 18, 1458

Conquer Lands

The Aztec beleived that their sun god required human sacrifices. They thought that if they did not sacrific humans there would no longer be light. The Aztec people went out to surrounding tribes and conquered them in order to please their god.

Jul 18, 1502

Moctezuma II became Ruler

Moctezuma II is the most famous of the Aztec Kings (9th king) See the family tree as to when Moctezuma became the ruler.

Jul 18, 1517

Star Serpant

Moctezuma sees a comet in the sky and believes this is a sign of impending doom. This comet has an impact on his future decisions with the Spanish.

Feb 19, 1519

Cortez sets sail for Mexico

With a force of 600 men and less thean 20 horses Cortez sets out. I wonder if he knew what an impact his horses would have on the Aztec people?

Jul 18, 1519

Cortez Comes to Mexico

Moctezuma Greets Cortez

Jul 18, 1519

Malinche and Cortez Join Forces

Malinche has been known by some as the key force that allowed the Spanish to overtake the Aztec people. Her role was a huge benifit to Cortez.

Jul 18, 1519

Power Over His Own People- Cortez

Cortez knew he needed the power of all of his men to conquer the Aztecs. To ensure his men would stay, Cortez burned all of the ships they had arrived on.

Jul 18, 1519

Cortez make an Alliance

Upon his planning Cortez realized that he needed more men. He travelled to Tlaxcala and invited the people to join forces. This was an easy task as the Aztec people wer not favored by many other tribes due to their attacks and human sacrifices.

Jul 18, 1520

Attack on Cortez

The Aztec people attacked Cortez as he returned from a quick trip. While he was gone the man he put in charge allowed them to have a celebration but attacked them. The spanish ended up killing about 600 men. The Aztec people were ready to fight

Jul 18, 1520

Death to Moctezuma

Cortez brought Moctezuma out to try to calm the Aztec people down. The Aztec people blaimed Moctezuma for their situation and stoned him to death.

Jul 18, 1520

Cortez is Forced Out

Anger was present and the Aztec people were fighting hard. Cortez left Tenochtitlan with plans to come back soon.

Jul 18, 1520

10th Ruler of Aztec

Rule of Cuitahuac

Jul 18, 1520

10th King Dies

Cuitahuac dies from smallpox.

Jul 18, 1521

Cortez Arrives Back to Tenochtitlan

After leaving in 1520, Cortez arrives back to finish what he started.

Jul 18, 1521

Plague on the Aztec

When Cortez arrived back to conquer he was not met with the resistance that he expected. The Aztec had fallen to small pox, wiping out a huge percentage of the population. See "Smallpox decimates the population in this article.

Jul 18, 1521

Tenochtitlan Destroyed

Tenochtitlan is destroyed. The Aztec people attempted to break down their causeways to keep the Spanish out but thier attempts did not allow them to have success.