In 1521, Hernán Cortés and his indigenous allies conquered Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec Empire, marking the end of one of the most powerful civilizations in Mesoamerica. This event was pivotal in the Spanish colonization of the Americas and had profound effects on indigenous populations, culture, and history. The fall of Tenochtitlan symbolizes the dramatic shifts in power and the beginning of a new era of European dominance in the region.

The fall of Tenochtitlan in 1521 led to the destruction of many codices but also the emergence of Nahua poetry transcribed in the Latin alphabet. This preservation of pre-Columbian poetic forms created a unique colonial literary hybridity, influencing the development of Mexican literature.