The Aztecs, the Conquistadors, and the Making of Mexican CultureTracing events from the discovery of the New World through the fall of the Aztec empire in 1521, this book discusses the battles between the Spanish explorers and the Aztecs--battles that culminated in the ruin of a civilization. The first half of the work alternates between Aztec and Spanish history, discussing events and motivations on each side as the two cultures expanded toward one another on their way to inevitable conflict. Placing special emphasis on Aztec mythology and religious beliefs, the author explains how the Spanish exploited the Aztecs' own cultural practices to insure the success of their invasion. The gold-and-glory engines driving the Spanish Crown and the actions of contemporary Spanish explorers such as Juan Ponce de Leon and Francisco Cordoba are examined. The concluding chapters give a thorough account of the struggle between Hernan Cortes and the Aztec ruler Montezuma, including the role of other indigenous tribes in the eventual downfall of the empire. The final chapter details the siege of the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan, and summarizes the ultimate destruction of the Aztec civilization. |
From inside the book
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Page 41
... lakes had no drainage points the erosion of salt from the earth collected at Lake Texcoco . Those who lived along this salt lake were dependent upon the freshwater streams such as the one that flowed at Chapultepec . The Mexica knew ...
... lakes had no drainage points the erosion of salt from the earth collected at Lake Texcoco . Those who lived along this salt lake were dependent upon the freshwater streams such as the one that flowed at Chapultepec . The Mexica knew ...
Page 42
... Lake Texcoco and known to a later genera- tion as Acopilco , to watch the assembled armies of the Valley of Anáhuac ... lake and fling it as far as he could into the waters of Lake Texcoco . The faithful Cuauhtlequet- zqui did as he was ...
... Lake Texcoco and known to a later genera- tion as Acopilco , to watch the assembled armies of the Valley of Anáhuac ... lake and fling it as far as he could into the waters of Lake Texcoco . The faithful Cuauhtlequet- zqui did as he was ...
Page 209
... Texcoco to see if Cacama could make good on his boastful claim . Rodrigo Álvarez Chico and Vázquez de Tapia soon returned from the city across the lake with an estimated 15,000 pesos worth of gold and many other items of value . The ...
... Texcoco to see if Cacama could make good on his boastful claim . Rodrigo Álvarez Chico and Vázquez de Tapia soon returned from the city across the lake with an estimated 15,000 pesos worth of gold and many other items of value . The ...
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Common terms and phrases
Aguilar Ahuitzotl Alaminos alliance allies Alonso Anáhuac army arrived attack Axayacatl Azcapotzalco battle began Bernal Díaz blood Cacama camp canoes captain captain-general captured causeway Cempoalla chief Cholula city of Tenochtitlán coast Coatlicue commander conquered conquest Córdoba Cortés decided Cortés's Cozumel Cruz Cuba Cuitláhuac death Diego Colón Diego Velázquez Dona Marina emissaries emperor enemy expedition Father Olmedo fear force gifts gods gold Grijalva Hernán Cortés Hispaniola honor horse Huitzilopochtli island Juan king Lake Texcoco land learned Lord Montezuma Mayans Narvaez natives Nezahualcoyotl Nezahualpilli night nobles offering once Ordaz palace Pedro Alvarado priests Quetzalcoatl reached ruler sacred sacrifice sailed sent ships sight soon Spain Spaniards Spaniards and Tlaxcalans Spanish soldiers stone stood temple Tendile Tenochti Tenochtitlán Tepanecs Tezcatlipoca Tezozomoc tezuma Tlacaelel Tlaloc tlán Tlatelolco Tlaxcalans told Tollan Toltecs took Totonac town tribes tribute troops Valley of Mexico victory weapons wizards Yucatán