The Spanish Conquest of the Aztec Empire is a significant event in the Spanish colonization occurring around 1519. The Spanish conquistadors were led by Hernan Cortes. The Spanish used the Aztecs rival tribes to fight against them that aided in their victory along with slaves who drained the Aztecs water source and diseases such as smallpox that was brought upon the civilization that drastically decreased the Aztec population. Another aid in the fall of the Aztec empire was the assistance of an Aztec woman named La Malinche. La Malinche was a woman who played a major role in the Spanish conquest, she was the interpreter for Hernan Cortes and the Spanish conquistadors. She would translate either Mayan or Nahuatl language to Spanish for Cortes’ …show more content…
understanding, allowing them to trespass without causing a huge scenario enabling them to attack from within and taking over the community. People in Mexico commonly use her name as an insult to someone who is a traitor to their own kind. It is believed that if La Malinche hadn’t helped Cortes the Spanish conquistadors would’ve been defeated and the Aztec civilization would’ve existed for a longer period. It has the possibility of ending both ways but not entirely since Cortes counted on La Malinche greatly since he required her for translation purposes. He only had a Mayan to Spanish translator but la Malinche was used to translate between Nahuatl to Spanish. She then became the only translator he needed after she comprehended the Mayan language as well. The excerpt from the Florentine Codex and the painting of “El sueño de la Malinche” have many comparisons and contrast to the conquest of the Aztecs.
The codex speaks about the fear that the people appear to have towards the Spaniards. Fear in making mistakes that will cause them their life, death shall come to them by the hands of the grim reaper who’s dressed as the Spaniards. In the Florentine Codex Sahagún states, “They were greatly afraid; they were limp with fear; they were taken aback” (Sahagún 124). It wasn’t only fear to them but also to Cortes’ right hand lady Marina, more commonly known as La Malinche, they feared her even though she was once one of them. The fact that she was with the Spaniards changed their entire image of her and was portrayed as someone new, with a new title to her name described as a Christianized woman married to a Spanish Conquistador leader. In the image of “El sueño de la Malinche” Ruíz depicts the civilization lying on the back of La Malinche, one wrong move and she destroys it. It is no wonder that the indigenous people fear her, for alongside Cortes she was the one who gave him the power that caused the downfall to the Empire. Since she was once one of them she held many secrets to their weaknesses and
strengths. In the codex it describes the scene where the Conquistadors are taking everything from Moteucçoma, everything he owns and anything that is valuable. Sahagún states, “Thereupon [Moteucçoma's] own personal property was brought out, belonging to him alone, his own portion, all precious things…They took all of it” (Sahagún 124). The Conquistadors no longer feared or respected Moteucçoma, no longer viewed him as the Aztec Emperor whom he was, but as a mere commoner. Taking everything that was precious to Moteucçoma and splitting it between them in front of Moteucçoma’s face, demonstrating disrespect and power that they beheld, the same power that once belonged to Moteucçoma himself. The writing in the Codex compares to the message in the image of “El sueño de la Malinche” in the way of how everything that once belonged to Moteucçoma is taken from him. It depicts how he lost it all to the Conquistadors. The lady in the painting known as La Malinche represents the Conquistadors because she is with them, she’s a part of them and her carrying the entire civilization on her back shows how Moteucçoma isn’t the ruler anymore. It portrays in a vivid image how the Spanish rule the Empire now just as it mentioned in the Codex, of how they took all Moteucçoma ‘s precious belongings. Just as both sources compare they also contrast each other in an unnoticeable way. In the Codex they mention Marina sympathizing more with the Spaniards than the Indigenous people. Sahagún states, “Mexica, come here, for the Spaniards are suffering greatly. Bring food, fresh water, and all that is needed, for they are suffering travail” (Sahagún 124). It gives off the idea that she is more worried for the health of the Spaniards but she respects the indigenous people by kindly asking for their help without the need for force. Displaying her affection towards both groups of people demonstrates she may care more for the Spaniards but she does respect the indigenous people enough to ask respectfully even though she is able to use force to get what she wants. Unlike in the painting of “El sueño de la Malinche” Ruiz depicts her in a peaceful slumber, but perhaps with a different message than that of a sweet dream. She is calmly sleeping while carrying the entire Aztec empire on her back, and if you pay close attention you can notice the expression on her face, the look of pure satisfaction. In the Codex it may portray her as sympathizing for both groups but in the painting it’s clear that for the indigenous people there’s not much care going around. For her to smile and sleep like a baby feeling no guilt or worries pushes her to side more with the Spaniards allowing them to do what they please with the Aztec Empire. The Aztec Empire was an advanced civilization that might have had the chance to live for a longer period if the betrayal of La Malinche hadn’t taken affect. The Spanish Conquistadors might have caused a lot of damage but it is possible that the Aztec’s would’ve made it through if it weren’t for Cortes finding La Malinche and making her his translator, an impact that changed the game plan for everyone. The Codex and the painting both have deep messages that take place in the Spanish Conquest of the Aztec Empire describing in great detail of the emotions the indigenous people felt during the situation along with the pride the Spaniards felt while overtaking the empire.
Anais Nin once said that “we write to taste life twice: in the moment and in retrospection.” In his book, Seven Myths of Spanish Conquest, Matthew Restall tries to change our perception of the past in other to open our eyes to what life was really like during the colonial period. As Restall puts it, the main propose of the book is to “illustrate the degree to which the Conquest was a far more complex and protracted affair” (p.154) than what was supposed in the latters and chronicles left by the conquistadores. Each one of Restall’s chapters examines one of seven myths regarding the mystery behind the conquest. By doing so, Matthew Restall forces us to look back at the Spanish conquest and question
“The Conquest of New Spain” is the first hand account of Bernal Diaz (translated by J.M. Cohen) who writes about his personal accounts of the conquest of Mexico by himself and other conquistadors beginning in 1517. Unlike other authors who wrote about their first hand accounts, Diaz offers a more positive outlook of the conquest and the conquistadors motives as they moved through mainland Mexico. The beginning chapters go into detail about the expeditions of some Spanish conquistadors such as Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba, Juan de Grijalva and Hernando Cotes. This book, though, focuses mainly on Diaz’s travels with Hernando Cortes. Bernal Diaz’s uses the idea of the “Just War Theory” as his argument for why the conquests were justifiable
The author argues that the Spanish were completely at fault for the total destruction of the Aztec Empire. In Broken spears, the author explains how many factors other than Spanish power contributed to the downfall of the Aztecs. Not only did the Spanish have many advantages over the Aztecs, but also they also exploited them and took advantage of the cultural difference. The main key aspects to the Spanish victory, is that the Spanish were viewed as gods at first because of their appearance, the Aztecs welcomed the Spanish with gifts and festivities, which showed the Spanish had total control of people. The Aztecs also held a ritual ceremony for the arrival of the “god” that included a human sacrifice, which was seen by the Spanish as a disgusting act, this trigged Spanish hatred for the Aztecs. When the Spanish saw the resources that the Aztecs had, they quickly started taking advantage of the Aztecs weaknesses. The Spanish had more power; they were better equipped than the Aztecs and more advanced. The Aztecs’ leader Montecuhzoma was a weak leader, he was more of a coward, more concerned with his well being and safety than the safety of his people and kingdom so he quickly surrendered under pressure. The Spanish used surrounding enemy tribes to take over the Aztec lands, then began to massacre men, women and children. When the Aztec became angry and started to fight back, they were quickly wrecked by the diseases the Spanish ...
Cortes was able to conquer the Aztecs for several very different reasons. In combination these reasons allowed him to have the upper hand in the conquest of Mexico. Arguably these reasons can be sorted into six different categories. The various causes for Cortes' success will be assessed in a climax pattern. To begin with the Aztecs had a harsh tribute system that was not popular among the people of Mexico. This cruel tribute system allowed Cortes to act as a liberator. Furthermore, with the Spanish brought several diseases into Mexico in witch they were immune to but the Aztecs were not. The spread of diseases such as small pox reduced the Aztec population and furthered Cortes' success unintentionally Also Marina was a tribal girl given as a gift to Cortes, she proved invaluable in translating local dialects in combination with Geronimo de Aguilar. Also an important aspect of his success was due to Montezuma's belief that Cortes was Quetzakoatl. A predominant reason for the Spanish success was due to their weaponry especially their armour and firepower. Perhaps the most important reason of all was that of Cortes' Indian allies such as the Tlaxcalans who made up the majority of his combined army. All these reasons worked together to allow Cortes, originally with 508 men to conquer the Aztec Empire of millions of people.
The downfall of the Aztec Empire was a major building block of the Spanish colonial empire in the Americas. Spain’s empire would stretch all the way into North America from the Southwest United States all the way up the Pacific Coast. The unfortunate side effect of this was the elimination of many nations of indigenous people. The three major themes shown in this conquest really give deeper look into the anatomy of this important historical event. Without context on the extent of native assistance given to Cortez in his fight with the Aztecs, a reader would be grossly uniformed. The Spanish conquest was closer to a civil war than an actual conquest. Until reading detailed personal accounts of the fighting it is difficult to judge the deadly effectiveness of the Spaniards technological superiority. Without it is difficult to imagine 500 conquistadors holding thousands of native warriors at bay. Once the greed of Cortez and greed in general of the Europeans one understands that if it wasn’t Cortez if would have just been a different man at a different time. Unfortunately fame and prosperity seem to always win over cares about fellow human beings
The myth talks of a woman living in the time of the Aztecs who is caught between her culture and that of Cortez cultures in the time of Hernando Cortes. The woman served as a mediator between Cortes and her people. She was his lover and stood aside as Cortes conquered her people making her seem as a traitor (Fitts).The woman and Cortes had a child; then Cortez abandoned the both of them, and the woman stayed alone the rest of her life. La Malinche means “bad woman” the woman got this name by turning on her people for Cortes by selling them out for revenge from how badly they treated, and ultimately destroys the civilization
The Aztec Empire was the most powerful Mesoamerican kingdom of all time. They dominated the valley of Mexico in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. The Aztecs were an advanced and successful civilization that built beautiful, sophisticated cities, temples, and pyramids. They also created a culture full of creativity with mythological and religious traditions. Aztecs lead a structured and evocative life that let their society to become a very superior civilization. The Aztec’s communication skills were very well developed for their time; through religious beliefs, government involvement, and family life they lived a full and productive life. Until in 1519 when the Spanish conquistadors arrived in Mexico, and defeated the Aztecs.
When the Spaniards arrived on the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico in 1519, they encountered the advanced society of the Aztecs. With Tenochititlan at its capital, the Aztec empire was vast. The Aztecs had substantial wealth from trading and extensive payments of tribute from conquered peoples. Bernal Diaz in his The Conquest of New Spain comments, "We were dazzled at the richness of the country that we passed through" (282). The Spaniards encountered a powerful, advanced people in the New World, making Cortes and his crew of approximately 600 seemingly ensured of defeat. The Aztec religion lends much to Spanish success in conquest.
The Conquest of New Spain Cortés came not to the New World to conquer by force, but by manipulation. Bernal Daz del Castillo, in the "Conquest of New Spain," describes how Cortés and his soldiers manipulated the Aztec people and their king Montezuma from the time they traveled from Iztapalaopa to the time when Montezuma took Cortés to the top of the great Cue and showed him the whole of Mexico and its countryside, and the three causeways which led into Mexico. Castillo's purpose for recording the mission was to keep an account of the wealth of Montezuma and Mexico, the traditions, and the economic potential that could benefit Cortés' upcoming conquest. However, through these recordings, we are able to see and understand Cortés' strategy in making Mexico "New Spain." He came as a wolf in sheep's clothing and manipulated Montezuma through his apparent innocence.
Immediately following the war with Spain, the United States had both the political will to pursue imperial policies and the geopolitical circumstances conducive to doing so. But the way in which these policies would manifest was an open question; was the impulse to actively remake the world in America’s Anglo-Saxon image justified? Hence, there were several models of American imperialism at the turn of the twentieth century. In the Philippines, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Samoa, the United States asserted unwavering political control. In Cuba, and later throughout most of the Caribbean basin, the economic and political domination of customarily sovereign governments became the policy. Ultimately, the United States was able to expand its territory
In 1519, Hernan Cortes left Cuba with only a small fraction of his huge army, 11 ships, 500 men, and 15 horses. After Cortes came to a halt for a series of short stops in Yucatán where gold was rare to find, instead he found a gift with no price worthy of it of translators, one "La Malinche" who later became his wife and also made legendary. She was an Aztec girl that was traded into Mayan slavery; another translator he found was a shipwrecked Spanish man who had also lea rned the Mayan language after seven years of slavery. He then soon learned that the land was ruled by a great leader in the city of Tenochtitlán. Then ambassadors from the Aztec Emperor, Moctezuma II arrived with gifts, in attempt of keeping him at a distance and preventing him from attacking by satisfying Cortes with gold.
History is usually outlined by critical moments which have had enduring effects in the world. Several turning points have defined the history of Latin America. Two major climaxes in Latin American History were the 19th-century Wars of Independence and the Mexican Revolution of 1910. Both of these events have significantly changed the course of Latin American history.
Her mom remarried once her father passed away. Malinche was sold to slave traders who of course spoke a different language and she started learning it. Slowly becoming a bilingual tongue opened her a couple doors. According to some, she even learned to speak other languages that gave her an advantage in the conquest. Since she started learning these languages that were very broad in Mexico, she started using that gain as a backstabbing technique towards Mexico. Once she met with Hernan Cortes and Malinche found out who she was and her capabilities, he recruited her and took her to meetings that he wanted her to be a part of. He used her for her capabilities of speaking different languages. In other words, he practically used her for being able to speak different languages which was a gain on his side of the conquest. She was able to get him through a deep part of Mexico which he wouldn’t have gotten to without her. She was able to understand the language and used that to beat Mexico off of their own
...nd in the west which would help to establish a fighting force in the pacific against the growing threats of the Asian empires such as Japan. Hawaii was annexed during this war and became a U.S. Territory later becoming a state in 1959. It seemed for everyone except Spain, the War was a good thing. Perhaps American loses would have been far less had it not been for the infectious diseases that Americans had never encountered. Because of his leadership and victories in the Spanish-American War, Lt. Col Theodore Roosevelt would later become the 26th president of the United States. He would die in 1919 and is to this date, revered as one of America’s greatest leaders. Because of Theodore Roosevelt’s leadership, he would influence the decisions of his cousin who would lead the nation out of a “Great Depression” and into another “Great War (WWII)” in the 1930’ and 40’s.
In 1519 Hernando Cortes` led over 500 men into Aztec territory in search of gold, what he found were the magnificent golden statues of the Aztec deities. The Aztecs believed him to be the representative for some white skinned god, and hence feared and respected him. It was not until they saw him melting their statues and shipping the blocks of gold to Spain that they acted. They attacked Hernanado and his men, and succeeded in driving them off. However, Cortes returned later with the support of local Indian tribes that hated the Aztecs for centuries of cruel treatment to defeat the mighty Aztecs and take the empire. This ended the Aztec civilization forever.