The Spanish Conquest of the Aztec Empire: The Glory and Myths, 1519-1521

Instructor: Gerie Bledsoe
February 19, 21, 23 1-3 p.m.

In 1519 the Aztec Empire, ruled by Moctezuma II, controlled central Mexico from its magnificent capital, Tenochtitlán, the trading center of Mesoamerica. In the spring of that year, a Spanish expedition from Cuba, led by Hernán Cortés, landed on the Gulf Coast near present-day Veracruz. What followed was a series of momentous events that ended in August 1521 with the fall of the Empire. This epic story will be re-told in class using a colorful Power Point presentation. The mysteries and myths associated with this event will then be discussed, along with the Conquest’s short- and long term- effects on Mexico. Class discussion will be encouraged. Course materials will be made available via email before the course begins.

Dr. Gerie Bledsoe holds a Ph.D. in history from The Florida State University and taught at Randolph-Macon College in Virginia. He has presented this course and several others on Mexican history during the past twelve years for the Instituto Allende’s Lifelong Learning Program and the Rotary Club. Bledsoe and his wife, Diane Ruszczyk, lived in San Miguel from 2010 to 2015.