Mexico, Aztec, Spanish and Republican, Vol. 1 of 2 A Historical, Geographical, Political, Statistical and Social Account of That Country From the Period of the Invasion by the Spaniards to the Present Time.

"Mexico, Aztec, Spanish and Republican, Vol. 1 of 2" by Brantz Mayer is a wide-ranging historical study from the 1800s that investigates Mexico's story, lands, and society, starting with the Aztecs, moving through the Spanish takeover, and going into the Mexican Republic period. The book vividly describes Hernando Cortéz's conquest, carefully looking at Aztec culture and how European colonization changed things. It starts with the Spanish expeditions that led to meeting the Aztecs, highlighting explorers like Gonzalez de Cordova and Juan de Grijalva and then focuses on Cortéz, his goals, and his problems with Velasquez, his former supporter, setting the scene for a major clash. This era of political intrigue and ambition introduced the rich Aztec civilization that Cortéz was about to meet, showcasing events that would dramatically reshape the country.