The Conquest of Mexico refers to the Spanish expedition led by Hernán Cortés in the early 16th century. Starting in 1519, Cortés and his men traveled from Cuba to the Aztec Empire, which was ruled by Moctezuma II. The Spanish sought wealth and land, and they formed alliances with local tribes discontented with Aztec rule. Cortés and his forces captured Tenochtitlán, the Aztec capital, in 1521 after a series of battles and strategic alliances. The conquest resulted in the fall of the Aztec Empire and the establishment of Spanish colonial rule in Mexico, significantly impacting the region's culture and demographics.