The Conquest of America: The Question of the OtherA classic in its field, The Conquest of America is a study of cultural confrontation in the New World, with implications far beyond sixteenth-century America. The book offers an original interpretation of both Columbus's discovery of America and the Spaniards' subsequent conquest, colonization, and destruction of pre-Columbian cultures in Mexico and the Caribbean. Using sixteenth-century sources, the distinguished French writer and critic Tzvetan Todorov examines the beliefs and behavior of the Spanish conquistadors and of the Aztecs, adversaries in a clash of cultures that resulted in the near extermination of Mesoamerica's Indian population. A new foreword by Anthony Pagden discusses the implications of Todorov's landmark study. |
From inside the book
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Contents
The Discovery of America | 3 |
Columbus as Interpreter | 14 |
Columbus and the Indians | 34 |
The Reasons for the Victory | 53 |
Montezuma and Signs | 63 |
Cortés and Signs | 98 |
Understanding Taking Possession and Destroying | 127 |
Equality or Inequality | 146 |
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Common terms and phrases
according action Admiral already America ancient appears asked assertion Aztecs become begins believe called Casas certain Christian civilization Columbus communication concern conquest conquistadors Cortés course culture describe desire Díaz Diego de Landa discourse discover divine Durán effect European event everything example existence fact faith give gods gold hand hence human identified important Indians individual interpretation island killed kind king knowledge land language Las Casas learned less live longer matter means Mexicans Mexico Montezuma narrative natives nature never object observe once Paris period person position possess practice present priests question reason regard relation religion religious remains reports Sahagún seems seen signs slaves society Spain Spaniards Spanish speak taken tell things tion translation true truth understand University voyage women writes