In 1521, Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés led a military expedition that resulted in the defeat of the Aztec Empire, aided by alliances with various indigenous groups. This conquest marked the beginning of Spanish colonization in the Americas, leading to the establishment of New Spain, which would later become modern Mexico. The event had profound implications for indigenous cultures, European expansion, and the global economy, as it opened up vast resources to European powers.

Hernán Cortés's conquest of the Aztec Empire in 1521 ignited a wave of chronicles and epic accounts, influencing baroque poetry and the works of poets like Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz. These narratives sparked debates on empire, civilization, and morality, shaping the literary landscape of the Spanish Golden Age.