What significant event happened one week after the Spanish arrived in Tenochtitlan?

The significant event that occurred one week after the Spanish arrived in Tenochtitlan was the kidnapping of Montezuma II. This action had profound implications for the relationship between the Aztecs and the Spanish conquerors. Upon arriving, Hernán Cortés and his men, recognizing the power and influence of Montezuma as the emperor of the Aztec Empire, sought to gain control over him to facilitate their conquest of the city.

By taking Montezuma hostage, the Spaniards aimed to leverage his authority to manipulate the Aztec people and weaken their resistance. This event marked a critical turning point, as it not only demonstrated the Spanish strategy of utilizing existing power structures to their advantage but also instigated significant unrest among the Aztecs, which would lead to further conflicts and ultimately the downfall of the Aztec Empire. The act of kidnapping was not merely an isolated incident; it initiated a series of events that altered the course of history in Mesoamerica.

The other choices reflect different moments in the interactions between the Spanish and the Aztecs, but none capture the immediacy and significance of the event within the week of the Spanish arrival.