Conquistador: Hernan Cortes, King Montezuma, and the Last Stand of the Aztecs
It was a moment unique in human history, the face-to-face meeting between two men from civilizations a world apart. In 1519, Hernán Cortes arrived on the shores of Mexico, determined not only to expand the Spanish expire but to convert the natives to Catholicism and carry off a fortune in gold. That he saw nothing paradoxical in his intentions is one of the most remarkable and tragic aspects of this unforgettable story.
In Tenochtitlán, Cortes met his Aztec counterpart, Montezuma: king, divinity, and commander of the most powerful military in the Americas. Yet in less than two years, Cortes defeated the entire Aztec nation in one of the most astounding battles ever waged. The story of a lost kingdom, a relentless conqueror, and a doomed warrior, Conquistador is history at its most riveting.
My Review
So how did a ruthless adventurer conquer the Aztecs? By being a ruthless opportunist who cleverly played various tribes against eachother. This he did masterfully. The he got superlucky because his soldiers introduced smallpocks to the continent, wiping out a third of their opponents. The author manages to write a very lively account that paints a realistic picture of the whole endeavour.
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