Timeline

1492-----------------Columbus Lands on an island, what is probably now called the Dominican Republic

1502-----------------Moctezuma II becomes tlatoani, ruler of Tenochtitlan and a vast empire in Mexico

1511-14------------Spaniards conquer Cuba and establish base there

1517-----------------First Spanish expedition to explore Mexico, Mexicas observe omens of doom

1518-----------------Juan de Grijalva explores Yucatán

Feb. 10, 1519-----Defying Governor Velásquez's orders, Cortés Leaves Cuba to conquer Mexico

June 3, 1519-------Spaniards arrive at Cempoala

Sept. 2-20, 1519-Spaniards fight with Tlaxcalans but end by winning Tlaxcalan allies

Oct. 1519-----------Massacre at Cholula

Nov. 8, 1519-------Spaniards peacefully enter Tenochtitlan

Nov. 14, 1519-----Cortés puts Moctezuma under house arrest

May, 1520----------Cortés leaves Tenochtitlan to fight army brought by Panfílo de Narváez

May, 1520----------Pedro de Alvarado and other Spaniards massacre people at Tóxcatl festival

June 24, 1520-----Cortés returns to Tenochtitlan

June 1529-----------Cuitlahuac chosen as tlatoani or ruler of Tenochtitlan

June 1520-----------Moctezuma killed

June 30, 1520-----La noche triste, The Night of Sorrows, Spaniards suffer heavy losses leaving Tenochtitlan

July, 1520-----------Spaniards reach Tlaxcala and are welcomed

Oct., 1520-----------Plague ravages Tenochtitlan

Dec., 1520----------Cuitlahuac dies from smallpox

Feb., 1521-----------Cuahtémoc becomes tlatoani or ruler of Tenochtitlan

May, 1521------------Spaniards besiege Tenochtitlan

May, 1521------------Spaniards cut off water to the city

June, 1521-----------Spaniards attempt to enter city

July, 1521-------------Spaniards decide to destroy city

August 7, 1521------Pedro de Alvarado suffers heavy losses trying to take marketplace of Tlatelolco

August 13, 1521----Cuautémoc imprisoned; battle for Tenochtitlan is over

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