Hernán Cortés

Three Mexican farmers, called chinamperos, navigate a trajinera, a small traditional boat of the area, through water canals on Xochimilco Lake, Mexico, in June. Victoria Razo for NPR hide caption

An artistic rendering of the retreat of Hernán Cortés from Tenochtitlán, the Aztec capital, in 1520. The Spanish conquistador led an expedition to present-day Mexico, landing in 1519. Although the Spanish forces numbered some 500 men, they managed to capture Aztec Emperor Montezuma II. The city later revolted, forcing Cortés and his men to retreat. Ann Ronan Pictures/Print Collector/Getty Images hide caption