Final answer:
Hernán Cortés gained wealth by leading the expedition that destroyed the Aztec Empire, capturing its capital Tenochtitlán after the fall of emporer Moctezuma II and eventually seizing control in 1521.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hernán Cortés, a Spanish conquistador, made his riches from an expedition that led to the destruction of the Aztec Empire. The Spanish were driven by their relentless quest for land and gold, and in 1519, Cortés entered Tenochtitlán, the capital of the Aztecs.
Astounded by the wealth and the sophistication of the city, but horrified by the practice of human sacrifice, the Spanish eventually captured the emperor Moctezuma II.
Following a series of conflicts, including an uprising in Tenochtitlán where Moctezuma II was killed, Cortés and his allies laid siege to the city.
By 1521, the Spanish and their indigenous allies had conquered the Aztec Empire, leading to a new Spanish-centered order and significant wealth for the conquistadors like Cortés.