In the year 1519, Motecozuoma, the Great Speaker of the Aztecs, resided in the magnificent city of Tenochtitlan. He ruled absolutely, and was treated as a god over much of what is now modern day Mexico. He began to hear stories from the eastern shore. Huge floating houses of wood had come, bringing strange-looking beings who spoke in incomprehensible babble, but wanted gold or food from the local natives. They exchanged small objects, such as knives, of a very hard, unknown material, or finely woven cloths, or decorative items such as bracelets or necklaces. They carried sticks that made fire...