# The Siege of Tenochtitlan 1521: How Cortés Destroyed an Empire

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-conquistadors-exploration-greed-and-destruction-fexingo-history-7864470/the-siege-of-tenochtitlan-1521-how-cort-s-destroyed-an-empire
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-conquistadors-exploration-greed-and-destruction-fexingo-history-7864470/the-siege-of-tenochtitlan-1521-how-cort-s-destroyed-an-empire.md
Podcast: [The Conquistadors: Exploration, Greed, and Destruction — Fexingo History](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-conquistadors-exploration-greed-and-destruction-fexingo-history-7864470)
Published: 2026-06-05T02:24:52+00:00
Episode link: https://audio.fexingo.com/history/the-conquistadors/episode-0077.mp3
Audio file: https://audio.fexingo.com/history/the-conquistadors/episode-0077.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-conquistadors-exploration-greed-and-destruction-fexingo-history-7864470/episodes/the-siege-of-tenochtitlan-1521-how-cort-s-destroyed-an-empire
Duration seconds: 442

## Resource

In 1521, Hernán Cortés laid siege to Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital, for 75 days. This episode covers the brutal blockades, the use of brigantines built by Tlaxcalan allies, the smallpox epidemic that ravaged the city, and the final assault led by Cortés and García Holguín. We explore the tactical decisions, the role of indigenous allies, and the aftermath—Cuauhtémoc's capture, the destruction of the Templo Mayor, and the birth of Mexico City on the ruins. Learn about the causeways of Tlacopan and Iztapalapa, the fresh water supply cut from Chapultepec, and the key battles at Tlatelolco. A turning point in world history that reshaped the Americas. #SiegeOfTenochtitlan #HernánCortés #AztecEmpire #Cuauhtémoc #TlaxcalanAllies #Brigantines #Smallpox #Tlatelolco #TemploMayor #MexicoCity #GarcíaHolguín #Chapultepec #Causeways #Nahuatl #Mesoamerica #Conquistadors #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

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