Essay On La Conquista

“Freedom” Is the right that every single person and country should have, but over the past years greed and power has limited the freedom of society. A great example will be La Conquista which is the spanish colonization of Latin America of 1519. The conquista only destroy Tenochtitlan by governing and making indigenous adapt to a new race, culture, traditions, religion, and beliefs.
In 1519 Hernan Cortes a spanish Hidalgo arrived to to Tenochtitlan in search of power and leadership. Cortes and his people believe that Indigenous people needed to be saved to make them go the right path, because they were evil people. Once they arrived they begin by “destroying all the religious symbols and temples and replace them with churches and christian symbols” (Cobarruvias). The spanish were armed and with an outnumber army. They did not only destroy many of their monuments but as well all the evidence such as manuscripts and idols. Cortes remove them from their property to give it away to his soldiers with the responsibilities of making them catholic and slave them to work for them. Now all the soldiers were the wealthy people on town. Cortez wanted power and governorship to obtain the respect of his people back in Spain since he was the middle child of three.
In

other words he did not wanted to resign to the life given, and was looking for a way to success. Cortes took control of all Tenochtitlan and the people slaving them to death. After all property was distributed to the soldiers they enforce the Encomienda System which it was a system where slaves were overwork to death with a low pay salary that was not not enough to feed their families and pay rent. Therefore the spanish being kind with “loan “ them money that will be paid back with more hours of work. This loan will accumulate and passed on to their children (Cobarrubias). All the money will go back to the spanish. The purpose of the spanish was not to stay here but to make fair fortune of gold and silver and go back to their country and to spread Christianity.
Spanish had more advanced equipment and experience the culture of the natives was fascinating that they started to spread it around as their idea. For example, food, language and religion. Cortes had to report how the life of an Indian was , so he sent correspondence portraying Tenochtitlan as a successful city and easy to adapt. They exported many products bringing them lots of profit. Also they acquire Mexica language that was blended with the spanish. Not only they adapt many of their goods or language but as well many similar beliefs such as heaven and hell and afterlife. Catholics belief that if you don't go to church, confess, or simply have god in life then the person with go to hell. “Since many of the beliefs were as similar as theirs were more accessible to the New Spain (Ch.4). Many were easily convince and easy to adapt christianity but other that refuse were punished and kept on temples until they fully changed their religion. Nobody was allowed to pray to any of the Mexica gods or any other if they were caught they will sometimes be punished to death.
Few Families continue to passed on their beliefs to their people in a secret way. Spanish to make it more accurate brought priest to help .
Women rape or killed and new immigrants arrive.

The New immigrant that arrived were people of color. Do to all the rapes of the women Mestizos started to exist a child from a spanish men and mexican women. At this time racism become a bigger issue called “The Caste System” which stated what social status the person belong based on race and color of skin...The more spanish blood the person has more rights “(cobarruvias).At this point Indigenous people had no other option but to give themselves up and to adapt to the new rules of the Spaniards. The unity of many were destroyed since "The indian mestizos reacted in variety of ways to which the Spaniards shaped conditions on their own benefit" (Ch.4,

97).
Some of the mestizos were found to be of their Mexican blood taking higher positions in the mines, where they themselves mistreated their own people. Indians started to adapt more by learning spanish and accepting christianity since in a way had similar beliefs to their own religion.
What was Tenochtitlan now days is Mexico, a beautiful place with a combination of the two cultures. Mexico city has many of the pyramids and the biggest catholic church that is constructed many back in Spain. Although influence a lot in In the way Mexicans live in Mexico today it's a mix of mexica and spanish culture. Spanish arrived to influenced a lot especially on the new generation that was based on mestizos and other that experience both stages.
And many of the traditions today still exist such as the foods, dances, music,and traditions.
Each and every single culture leaves a footprint that could never be erased no matter how many people step on it, and it's the same thing for the Indigenous people which are the influences of many of the thing my family celebrate and belief.