In 1519, the ambitious Hernán Cortés set out from Cuba with 600 men on an expedition to the mainland in present-day Mexico. He soon came into contact with the mighty Aztec Empire, home to millions of citizens and thousands of warriors. By deftly exploiting traditional feuds and rivalries among the tribes that made up the Empire, he was able to conquer the mighty Aztecs, securing a vast fortune and noble title for himself. He also inspired thousands of Spaniards to swarm to the New World to try and emulate him.

The 8.9-magnitude earthquake

The death toll from the tsunami and earthquake, the strongest ever recorded in Japan

Thousands of homes were destroyed, many roads were impassable, trains and buses were not running, and power and cellphones remained down