The Spanish had intended an invasion of the mainland of Mexico, but were taken in a ruse by the wise Aztecs. Leading the Spaniards into a trap of one of the bridges of Tenochtitlán, Cortás and his men were trapped. As Cortés was being dragged off by four Aztec warriors, Cristobal de Olea threw himself forward to save his leader, only to be slain as well.
In a matter of hours Cortés and his sixty-men were taken to the Great Temple, forced to dance before the Aztec god of war, Huitzilopochtli, their hands and faces flayed, and their beating hearts torn from their chests. The heart of Cortés was sent to his men to be returned to the King and Queen of Spain as a witness to their ferocity against such would be invaders.
In exchange for their lives, the few surviving men of Cortés were forced to surrender all their knowledge of technology before they escaped. The Aztec had learned, and sent embassies to the south and north, to recruit those other native nations to the cause of defense against the white invaders, speaking of their cruelty, treachery and deceptions.
The Inca were prepared for Pizarro and the rest of the western empires were forewarned, and Spain's colonial interests were thwarted.
Rumors abound of the existence of the Anasazi, but none have ever been substantiated. Some suspect it is fueled by the Zuni or Hopi indians, as a means to protect their lands from the British American States.
The Aztec nation did not survive much past the 16th century, but strong mezo-american states took its place, leading to a native confederation that resulted in limited coastal colonies for the spanish, which, toward the end of the 18th century were integrated into the mezo-american kingdoms and chiefdoms.