Final answer:
Hernán Cortés was a Spanish conquistador who conquered the Aztec Empire and played a crucial role in the Spanish colonization of the Americas.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hernán Cortés was a Spanish conquistador who arrived in Mexico in 1519 with the mission of exploring and gaining riches for Spain. He is important because he conquered the Aztec Empire and played a significant role in the Spanish colonization of the Americas. Cortés was able to establish Spanish control over Mexico and obtain vast amounts of wealth, including gold and other resources, for Spain. He arrived in Veracruz in 1519 against the orders of the Cuban governor, and believing their leader Quetzalcoatl had returned, the Aztecs greeted Cortés with gifts. His determination led him to burn his ships to prevent retreat and push onward to Tenochtitlán, the magnificent capital of the Aztec Empire.