The Aztec Empire goes back approximately to the fourteenth century, and covered what is now known as Mexico. The empire expanded rapidly, and by the early 16th century, it stretched from the Pacific Ocean in the West, to the Atlantic Ocean in the East. The Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan, was a splendid complex of cities, lakes, and canals. When the Spanish explorers, under Cortez, arrived in 1519, they were first welcomed by the Aztecs. By 1521, the people ruled by the Aztecs were tired of the heavy taxes they had to pay, and the harshness of their rulers. So, they joined forces with the Spanish explorers and attacked the Aztec capital. Tenochtitlan was razed to the ground, and the empire fell. In 1535, Mexico officially came under Spanish rule.
