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. |
Contents
Two The Spanish Invasion | 21 |
223 | 32 |
FOUR The Voyage of Francisco de Córdoba | 48 |
Copyright | |
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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