This podcast episode unravels the remarkable rise of Hernan Cortes, tracing his journey from a tumultuous upbringing in Spain to the brutal realities of early 16th-century Hispaniola, where he witnessed the grim consequences of colonization first-hand. It explores the motivations behind Cortes's ambitions amid the era's chivalric tales and the violent realities of conquest and colonization. The discussion underscores how early Spanish encounters with the indigenous civilizations, particularly the Maya and the Aztec Empire, fueled the relentless drive for wealth and expansion, ultimately culminating in Cortes's pivotal expedition that reshaped the history of Mexico.
