What powerful empire Hernan Cortes conquered?

Hernán Cortés conquered the Aztec Empire in the early 16th century. Arriving in present-day Mexico in 1519, he capitalized on existing rivalries among indigenous peoples and utilized advanced weaponry, as well as strategic alliances, to overthrow the Aztec ruler Montezuma II. The conquest culminated in the fall of Tenochtitlán in 1521, leading to significant Spanish colonization of the region.