In the early 16th century, some 35 million people were ruled by two men, whose names have resonated down the centuries, the Aztec Montezuma and the Inca Atahualpa. They were kings and gods in one, divine rulers with total sway over their subjects, yet these all-powerful emperors were swiftly brought to their knees by small armies from across the ocean, the Spanish conquistadors.

This three-part series tells the tale of the fateful years when the Spanish Empire overwhelmed two of the greatest civilisations the world has ever known, the Aztecs of Mexico and the Incas of Peru. Using the atmosphere of the original locations and subtle dramatic reconstruction, created by cutting edge computer graphics, we see this massive clash of cultures through the eyes of both sides.

In this first episode we see how five centuries ago, 500 Spanish adventurers became the first Europeans to invade mainland America, led by the ruthless Hernan Cortés with his young Mayan lover, Malinali. Lust for gold and glory clashed with ancient beliefs and human sacrifice, as they confronted the most ferocious people of the New World, the Aztecs.