But early in the 16th century, a brilliant new red appeared in Europe. When the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés and his soldiers conquered the Aztec Empire in 1519-1521, they discovered slowly that the Aztecs had another treasure beside silver and gold; they had the tiny cochineal, a parasitic scale insect which lived on cactus plants, which, when dried and crushed, made a magnificent red. The cochineal in Mexico was closely related to the Kermes varieties of Europe, but unlike European Kermes, it could be harvested several times a year, and it was ten times stronger than the Kermes of Poland. It worked particularly well on silk, satin and other luxury textiles. In 1523 Cortes sent the first shipment to Spain. Soon cochineal began to arrive in European ports aboard convoys of Spanish galleons. COUNT 5
QSN1 Which conquistador from Spain conquered the Aztec Empire? ANS1 Hernán Cortés QSN2 In what century did a new kind of red pigment arrive in Europe from the Aztec Empire? ANS2 16th QSN3 During what years was the Aztec Empire conquered? ANS3 1519-1521 QSN4 In what year did Cortes send the first cochineal to Spain? ANS4 1523 QSN5 How often could the Mexican cochineal be harvested? ANS5 several times a year