How did aztec culture shape the first meeting between hernán cortés and moctezuma?

In the spring of 1519, upon receiving the news of the arrival of strangers to the east coast of present-day Mexico, to the beaches of Chalchihuecan in the present state of Veracruz, Moctezuma sent ambassadors presided over by five Mexica nobles to investigate the stories. Following his detailed instructions, the emissaries carried three sets of trappings: one associated with Tezcatlipoca, another with Tlaloc, and another with Quetzalcoatl. Each Nahua god had elements of specific attire, and Moctezuma believed that Cortes could be related to Quetzalcoatl, taking into consideration the prophecy which said "from the east will come white and bearded men" and thought that if the Spanish allowed them to adorn it with their attributes It would be proven that such a relationship was true, since no one would dare allow themselves to be decorated in such a way without being authorized for it by the deity. Perhaps by chance, Cortés was pleased when he was dressed in Quetzalcoatl's suit. This terrified Moctezuma Xocoyotzin, who sent rich presents to prevent the Spanish from approaching. But the gifts only aroused the greed of the invaders.

the expansion of the rule of empires over other territories took place as a result of several reasons including economic, ethnocentric, political, and religious, and exploratory purposes.

in terms of economic purposes: imperial governments aimed to maximize profits and with that purpose they neeeded cheap labor, access to or control of markets to sell or buy products. they also desired to find natural resources (precious metals and land). in the awake of   industrial revolution, dependent colonies provided the necessary raw materials that european factories and market needed to manufacture products.  

ethnocentric: many territories were conquered by imperial territories in an attempt to spread their cultures, values and belief as they considered them to be superior. in the late 19th century, for example, european powers held   the racist belief that inferior races should be conquered in order to “civilize” them.

political: another reason that drove conquer and expansion was patriotism and growing imperial power. it refers to national prestige, pride, and security. empires sought strategic territory to ensure access for their navies and armies around the world.

religious: the aim of converting new member of other religions was another factor that prompted expansion.   christian missionaries from europe established churches in conquered territories during the nineteenth century. thus, they spread western cultural values. furthermore, the imperial nation’s language was spread as well, through educational and religious interactions.

exploratory: imperial nations or their citizens aimed to explore territory that was unknown to them,   for different purposes including medical or scientific research, however, at the very   beginning, they did it to embark on adventure. furthermore, imperial explorers sought to discover, map, and claim territory before their imperial competition did, for national and personal glory as well as to realize the imperialist goal of expansion.