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A aztec account of the conquest of mexico summary and analysis
A aztec account of the conquest of mexico summary and analysis
Reasons for the successful conquest of mexico
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Cabeza de Vaca, a Spanish explorer, was raised with a strict colonial mindset, due to his service in the Spanish army at a young age. Thus, he joined the Conquest of Mexico, leaving his homeland of Spain with five ships to obtain gold and territory, similar to a vast amount of other explorers in this era. This expedition played a huge role in de Vaca’s life, hence foreshadowing the transformation of his views on many circumstances that were yet to come, one being the Native Americans.
On his journey to the New World, Cabeza de Vaca’s fleet felt the wrath of a hurricane, consequently resulting him and his crew to obtain a new vessel, which they continued their voyage nearing Florida. Due to starvation and thirst, many members who joined de
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Building simple rafts, using their clothing as sails, De Vaca, and what was left of the explorers, parted Florida. With barely any food left to consume, Cabeza de Vaca and what was left of the crew, made it to a coast near Galveston Island in Texas. De Vaca soon became quiet ill in the winter, thus residing on the mainland where many though he died. Only three of his members remained alive, the others either died or were attacked by Indians. Still living and recovering from his illness, de Vaca became a Texas merchant, and began trading items such as sea shells. He received food in exchange for treating the sick Indians, he even used his catholic religion to cure them, but when he refused to aid them, they took away his source …show more content…
De Vaca knew the title of a conquistador was no longer what he would be referenced to. This exemplifies de Vaca’s way of distancing himself from what he once believed was a title of honor, but after what he’s faced, and the natives he’s encountered on this expedition, he knew better than to be called one.
Travelling to the North of Mexico, de Vaca encountered some Spaniards along the way, but was livid when he discovered that these Spaniards were enslaving Indians. Thus, he tried negotiating with these men, which halted their actions for the time being. De Vaca, spoke to the King himself when he returned to Spain, stating that the only way to get through to the Indians was through compassion, not by harshness. He argued for their rights, something which before would’ve been absurd coming out of his mouth. His companions would vouch for him, due to their experience as
Admittedly, these men are responsible for much of the exploration of the America’s, but to focus on so few of the explorers ignores how reactive their actions were, and the larger narrative of the world at that time (4). For example, Columbus is praised and idolized for discovering the America’s, however it was only by luck that he arrived on those shores. Moreover, there were many other explorers at the time who could have reached the America’s if Columbus had not done so first (9). Another man who is seen as the key figure in the actual Conquest is Cortes. Cortes’ campaign in the America’s is commonly viewed as the standard to strive for, yet it is also the exception to a typical conquest (19). He is viewed as some above-it-all conquistador idol, when in all actuality he merely followed the standard protocol of the Conquest (19). This does not mean that Cortes’ actions were any less inspirational, merely that they were not uncharacteristic acts that he created (19). Both Columbus and Cortes were merely following standard procedure of the time, yet they are written about as if they were heroes of their time, bravely going and doing what none had done before. And in some sense, they were the first to discover and conquer, but it is foolish to assume that just because they were the first to be in the America’s
In this section his initial thoughts show through. “But losers matter, especially in the history of early America.” Many different regions of early America are examined in their years of early conquest when native populations started their descent. The biggest theme throughout the section is the effect that conquistadors and explorers had on the native population in their search for gold and glory. The information that is given is not typical of what is learned of early America, but tries to really focus on the most important figures of the time and there voyages. For example, when talking about the Plains nations and there explorers, Coronado and De Soto a tattooed woman woman is brought up who had been captured by both explorers at different times and different places, but little is known about her. “Of the tattooed woman who witnessed the two greatest expeditions of conquest in North America, and became captive to both, nothing more is known.” This point captures the main idea of the theme and what many know of this time. Horwitz aims to point out the important facts, not just the well known
The source of the first passage that I read was History of the Indies written by Bartolome de Las Casas written in 1528. Bartolome was a 16th century Spanish historian, social reformer and Dominican friar/priest, who condemned the treatment of Indians in the Spanish empire. Bartolome widely disseminated History of the Indies and helped to establish the Black Legend of Spanish cruelty (Give Me Liberty, 28). The source of the second passage that I read was the “Declaration of Josephe” which was created by Josephe on December 19, 1681, and Josephe was a Spanish-speaking Indian questioned by a royal attorney in Mexico City investigating the Pueblo Revolt, which is the revolt of the indian population, in 1680, which temporarily drove Spanish settlers out of present day New Mexico
Karankawa gave them food and shelter. Cabeza de Vaca gave us the first recorded accounts of
The article, “Native Reactions to the invasion of America”, is written by a well-known historian, James Axtell to inform the readers about the tragedy that took place in the Native American history. All through the article, Axtell summarizes the life of the Native Americans after Columbus acquainted America to the world. Axtell launches his essay by pointing out how Christopher Columbus’s image changed in the eyes of the public over the past century. In 1892, Columbus’s work and admirations overshadowed the tears and sorrows of the Native Americans. However, in 1992, Columbus’s undeserved limelight shifted to the Native Americans when the society rediscovered the history’s unheard voices and became much more evident about the horrific tragedy of the Natives Indians.
Milanich, Jerald T. and Susan Milbrath., ed. First Encounters: Spanish Exploration in the Caribbean and the United States1492-1570. Gainesville: U of Florida P, 1989.
In a lively account filled that is with personal accounts and the voices of people that were in the past left out of the historical armament, Ronald Takaki proffers us a new perspective of America’s envisioned past. Mr. Takaki confronts and disputes the Anglo-centric historical point of view. This dispute and confrontation is started in the within the seventeenth-century arrival of the colonists from England as witnessed by the Powhatan Indians of Virginia and the Wamapanoag Indians from the Massachusetts area. From there, Mr. Takaki turns our attention to several different cultures and how they had been affected by North America. The English colonists had brought the African people with force to the Atlantic coasts of America. The Irish women that sought to facilitate their need to work in factory settings and maids for our towns. The Chinese who migrated with ideas of a golden mountain and the Japanese who came and labored in the cane fields of Hawaii and on the farms of California. The Jewish people that fled from shtetls of Russia and created new urban communities here. The Latinos who crossed the border had come in search of the mythic and fabulous life El Norte.
Axtell, James. “Native Reactions to the Invasion of North America.” Beyond 1492: Encounters in Colonial North America. New York: Oxford UP, 1992. 97-121. Print.
The Black Legend and White Legend: Relationship Between the Spanish and Indians in the New World
Imagine hiking roughly 2,000 miles while facing incredibly dangerous blazing hot deserts and steep mountains and doing that in 21 months. In the spring of 1527, five Spanish ships left the port of Seville and headed for the new world. Cabeza set out with 300 other men to shore where they would start a very long expedition. Cabeza drifted out to sea on a raft and came back to shore into current day Galveston, Texas. In the fall of 1532 Cabeza de Vaca started the long trek with three other survivors from modern day Texas to modern day Mexico City, and he
Many people know of the rhyme, “Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492,” and as a result of his discoveries, he was considered a historic hero worthy of having a holiday dedicated to him. Little did he know at the time, however, that he would find a preexisting civilization built by the Taino Native Americans that he would catalyze the fall of – returning their initial friendliness with labor and suffering. The loss of the Taino population was the result of harsh conditions, disease, and exploitation under Spanish colonization.
The massive silver cross being carried by Native Americans in the closing of this movie sensationalize the way in which the Europeans conformed the 16th century world to Christianity. Cabeza de Vaca directed by Nicolas Echevarria gives insight into what was Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca’s extraordinary journey. Europeans wanted to explore distant lands to spread their beliefs and they needed explorers to do the job. Cabeza stepped up and the experience he got was life altering. When he returned to Spain his ideas of the Roman Catholics would never be the same. Nicolas Echevarria does an adequate job in on behalf of Cabezas story. His strong suits were taking the viewers back in time however he lacked the entertainment value that would allow more
1. Cabeza de Vaca thinks that the natives are good people and that they treated them fairly. They also had the same believe as us when it comes to children. As stated,” at a house where a son or brother may die, no one goes out for food for three months, the neighbors and other relatives provide what is eaten (48). As is sometime done today went someone in the family dies. Although it may not be for three months but it is most likely a few days to a week. I feel that Vaca respects and accepts the native’s culture. He lived with many natives tribes and he said that he was treated as if he was one of them. Hernán Cortés believes that the Natives were very civilized in things such as trading. There are street squares were people would come to
Both times he was beaten back to the coast by Maya armies. Shortly after his expeditions, Cortes suffered the same fate during his attempt to penetrate Cozumel and Champoton. In March of 1519, after both men’s failed attempts, Cortes put together a larger expedition with the expectation of being able to set up trade with the Maya. He hoped this would help lead to the establishment of a permanent Spanish settlement. Instead, Cortes was able to defeat small groups of Maya armies during this time. After being defeated, the Maya offered Cortes objects made of gold and told stories great empires that layed further into the mainland. Overcome with ambition and visions of conquest, all focus was moved from the establishment of a permanent settlement to tracking down and finding these
On June 17, 1527, Cabeza de Vaca set sail on the order to conquer and govern the lands from the Rio Grande to the cape of Florida. However, during his journey he encountered much devastation such as the wrecking of his ship which resulted in his separation from the majority of his Christian companions. Praying to God after every ordeal, Cabeza routinely sought after his Christian religion to guide him through his unexpected journey. While traveling through the interior of America, he also encountered many native tribes which inhabited the land. While most of the Spanish conquistadors in the sixteenth century spread their religion through warlike ways and rearranged societies for the sole purpose of their own economic gain, Cabeza thought that kindness was the only way to win the hearts of the natives and without clothes or any material possessions, he upheld his promise and beliefs. After being enslaved by the natives Cabeza moved from tribe to tribe with the hope of finding his fellow Christians while praising and thanking God that his life was spared. Moving from tribe to tribe as a medicine man Cabeza still lived by his Christian teachings and implemented them into the way that he communicated with the natives, ultimately converting many tribes into Christianity. The religion of Christianity directly influenced the way in which Cabeza de Vaca interacted and felt toward the natives, thus throughout the duration of his time traveling across the interior of America, Cabeza was able to continually practice his religious beliefs while also being able to convert many Indians to his religion at the same time.