Monday, October 3
Topic: Atlantic World
SLIDESMANIA.COM
Who Was Hernan Cortes?
Cortes’ Route
What Did the Spanish Think of the Aztec Empire?
Bernal Diaz del Castillo, one of Cortés' men, describes Tenochtitlán:
“When we saw all those cities and villages built on water; and the other great towns on dry land, and that straight and level causeway leading to Mexico, we were astounded. These great towns and shrines and buildings rising from the water, all made of stone, seemed like an enchanted vision. Indeed some of our soldiers asked whether it was not all a dream...It was all so wonderful that I do not know how to describe this first glimpse of things never heard or, never seen, and never dreamed of before.”
Cortes describes Tenochtitlan:
“In order to convey to your Majesty a just conception of the great extent of this noble city of Tenochtitlan, and of the many rare and wonderful objects it contains, of the government and dominions of Moctezuma…it would require the labor of many accomplished writers…I shall not be able to relate an hundredth part of what could be told respecting these matters but I will endeavor to describe, in the best manner in my power, what I have myself seen; and...I am fully aware that the account will appear so wonderful as to be deemed scarcely worthy of credit...The city is as large as Seville or Cordoba…”
What Did the Spanish Think of the Aztec Empire?
Fall of Tenochtitlan painted in the 17th century
Cognitive Dissonance
Having inconsistent thoughts, beliefs, or attitudes
Conquest or war? What do the sources say about how the Spanish conquered the Aztec?
The Usual Narrative
Montezuma surrendered his empire to Cortés. Cortés and his men entered Tenochtitlán and lived there peacefully for months until rebellious Aztecs attacked them. Montezuma was killed by friendly fire by his own people (or perhaps they had turned on him and purposefully murdered him). The surviving conquistadors escaped the city and later returned with Spanish reinforcements. They bravely laid siege to Tenochtitlán for months and finally captured it on Aug. 13, 1521, with the Spanish taking their rightful place as leaders of the land we now know as Mexico. Conquest accomplished.
Compare the Secondary Sources. What do they say about why the Aztec fell?
Was ritual sacrifice any more barbaric than Christian torture, burning at the stake, trial by water, etc?
La Malinche
Do Spanish and Aztec Sources Corroborate one another?
Compare the Spanish and Aztec accounts of what happened when the war began. Where do they differ and where do they agree?
After Conquest
“Wila Uma, the Inca general, addressed the Spanish [conquistadors] with the following words: ‘What are you doing to our ruler? This is how you repay his good will? Did he not command all of his people to give you tribute? Did he not give you a house filled with gold and silver? Did he not give you his servants to serve you? What more can he give you now that you have imprisoned him? All the people of this land are so distressed by your actions, because they have lost all they possess, and their distress leaves them no choice but to hang themselves or risk everything by rebelling. Thus, I believe it would be best for you to release him from this prison to lessen the grief of these people.’ . . .
Titu Cusi, ruler of a regional Inca state, letter to the Spanish king,, 1570
Which of the following most directly facilitated the conquest alluded to in the passage?