The Spanish conquest of Mexico was one of the most difficult military expeditions in history, and in achieving it, Hernan Cortes proved himself as one of the ablest European generals of all time. This book explains the background of the Aztec Empire and of the arrival and presence of the conquistadores into Mexico. It describes the lives of the Aztecs in their glittering capital and of the Europeans' attempts to survive in an unknown and often hostile environment. Concisely expressed, this is an introductory guide to the invasion and war between civilizations, pitting the rich culture of the Aztecs against soldiers fighting for riches.