1. H ERNÁN C ORTÉS By: Molly Kingston

2. 1485 Born in the Spanish city of Medellín. He famous mainly for his march across Mexico and his conquering of the Aztec Empire. Cortés was a Spanish conquistador. His full name is Hernándo Cortés Pizarro. http://www.aztec-history.com/hernan-cortez- biography.html http://library.thinkquest.org/4034/cortes.html

3. H ERNÁN C ORTÉS

4. 1504 He went to the island of Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic). After a difficult voyage, he arrived on Easter Sunday. He went when he was 19 and stayed for 7 years. http://www.inn- california.com/Articles/biographic/cortes.html

5. S ANTA D OMINGO (D OMINICAN R EPUBLIC )

6. 1519 Cortés arrived in Mexico with 600 men. He made is way inland to the Aztec capital city, Tenochtitlán. He became friends with a group called the Tlaxcalans. The Tlaxcalans were enemies of the Aztecs. They helped Cortés against the Aztecs. When they reached the capital city, they met Montezuma, and eventually held him hostage. http://library.thinkquest.org/4034/cortes.html

7. T ENOCHTITLÁN

8. 1528 Cortés was getting out of control in the Americas, so he had to give up his job. He went back to Spain after he gave up his job. He persuaded the king to send him back to Mexico, but with less power and freedom than before. http://library.thinkquest.org/4034/cortes.html

9. H E TRAVELED FROM S PAIN TO M EXICO

10. 1530 Returned to Mexico with new titles and honors. He quarreled with Nuño Beltrán de Guzmán about the right to explore what is now California. He eventually discovered the Baja California Peninsula. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hern%C3%A1n_Cort %C3%A9s

11. H E QUARRELED WITH N UÑO B ELTRÁN DE G UZMÁN

12. 1535 He sailed out of Sinaloa. He landed at a place he called Santa Cruz (La Paz, Baja California). He found a few pearls, and after a year of exploration, he returned to Mexico city. http://www.inn- california.com/Articles/biographic/cortes4.html

13. H E LEFT S INALOA AND WENT TO S ANTA C RUZ

14. 1540 He returned to Spain. He wished to appeal in person to the king. The king, however was not there. The officials decided they could do nothing in the king’s absence. http://www.inn- california.com/Articles/biographic/cortes4.html

15. T HE KING WAS NOT THERE

16. 1547 Hernán Cortés dies. He dies in the town of Castilleja de Cuesta, near the city of Seville. He lived in the home of a magistrate in the town of Castilleja de Cuesta http://www.inn- california.com/Articles/biographic/cortes4.html

17. H E DIES NEAR THE CITY OF S EVILLE