Transcript Hernán Cortés Powerpoint

Hernán Cortés:
Conquest of Mexico =
Conquest of
Montezuma’s Aztec
Empire
http://www.biography.com/peop
le/hern%C3%A1ncort%C3%A9s-9258320
Tenochtitlan
Seville, Spain, 16th
century
The Conquest of Mexico
The Conquest of Mexico
Tenochtitlan today
Hernan Cortes: Second Letter
• Who is Cortes’ letter’s addressee? What is Cortes’ reason
for writing it?
• How does he compare European and Native civilization?
• What underlying assumptions regarding religion does
Cortes’ letter reveal? How is religion used as a way of
influencing directives from Spain?
• In what way does it deepen our understanding of letters
describing conquests and native culture?
– What does Cortes’ letter have in common with Columbus’
letter to the Spanish monarchs?
– How does Cortes’ letter differ from Columbus’ letter?
Hernan Cortes: Second Letter
• Who is Cortes’ letter’s addressee? What is Cortes’ reason for
writing it?
– Charles V of Spain
– To explain why he disobeyed his recall and landed on the Mexican
coast
– To speak of the profit gained from his actions
• How does he compare European and Native civilization?
– Aztec civilization is portrayed as more sophisticated than European
civilization, but their false religious belief justifies European
intervention.
• What underlying assumptions regarding religion does Cortes’
letter reveal? How is religion used as a way of influencing
directives from Spain?
– Being “far from God” = “barbarous” (42), despite “harmony and
order”
– Aztecs acknowledge that their religion may not be true
In what way does it deepen our understanding of letters describing
conquests and native culture?
• What does Cortes’ letter have in common with
Columbus’ letter to the Spanish monarchs?
– Glorification of personal achievements – assertion of
unique role
– Seeking influence on policies made in Spain
– Detailing the riches of the New World, and their
availability to the monarch
• How does Cortes’ letter differ from Columbus’
letter?
– Insight on cultural/religious differences
– Insight on Europe’s narrative of superiority 
justification for conquest