Part 7/8:
With Montezuma now their captive, the Spanish soldiers ventured into the heart of Tenochtitlán, witnessing firsthand the splendor and brutality of the Aztec Empire. They marveled at the marketplace once more, where the sheer volume and organization baffled even the most seasoned European merchants.
Yet, it was the visit to the Great Temple where they encountered the stark dichotomy of Aztec life—the horrifying sacrificial rites that would haunt them long after their departure. At the top of the temple, they observed rituals steeped in blood and reverence, illuminating a culture at once magnificent and terrifying.