Hernan Cortes arrived in Mexico with the intention of claiming the land for Spain. He made alliances with indigenous groups who were against the ruling Aztec empire and eventually marched on the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan, which fell in 1521. This marked the end of the Aztec empire and the beginning of Spanish colonial rule in Mexico. The conquest of Mexico had lasting effects on the indigenous populations, leading to the decline of their cultures and the spread of Spanish influence in the region.
