Abstract This paper traces the conquest on Mexico and the Aztec civilization by Hernando Cortez and his men in 1519 against the backdrop of the forces which influenced the Europeans to seek such a mission. The paper shows that the Europeans struggled with their ambivalence towards the two Americas and towards the native people whom they viewed as heathens and whose complexed cultures they were unable to understand. The paper explains that Cortez knew he was on a mission, not just for wealth, but to preserve the hegemony, both psychological and literal, of Europe. The paper examines the Aztec civilization and follows the course of the conquest until the Aztec surrended to Cortez's troops in 1521.
From the Paper "The Aztec culture was well developed; they had developed an agricultural system that fed a large population; had developed math that helped provide them with an accurate calendar; had built a system of water canals for crop irrigation; mined for gold, silver, tin and copper; and had created weapons such as clubs lined with volcanic glass called obsidian. These clubs could decapitate an animal with a single blow. They had developed cooking and eating utensils, and a system of trade and barter. They also had schools; they held slaves, and they practiced human sacrifice in religious ceremonies."
Tags: Malinche, King, Charles, I, Quetzalcoatl, Montezuma
Abstract A fictionalized description of Aztec cultural traditions and mythology as it might have been acted out in the lives of real people at the time of transition as Cortez conquered the empire of Moctezuma. The story is told by a young man, aged 17, who intended to become a shaman, as his world is overturned by the arrival of the Spaniards.
From the Paper "Last night I sat again at the feet of my father in the Place of the Skulls listening to the Shaman, Izcalli, telling the same story I have heard so many times. My little brother, Cat, short for Ehecatl, sat at my side. Cat was named for the day when he was born, the second day of the month, called Ehecatl. And that day, in it's turn was named for Ehecatl, the God of the wind, road sweeper of the rain gods. This god, like many others is one of the many forms in which the great Quetzalcoatl reveals himself."
Abstract This paper examines and analyzes the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon and the discovery of Florida in terms of his morality and ethics as a sailor and colonizer. The author compares Ponce de Leon's ethics and policies towards the Indians to that of other explorers like Cortez, Colombus, Pizarro, and other Spanish explorers of the time.
Abstract The paper outlines the history and events surrounding the figure of La Malinche, with a focus on her influence on and relationship with Cortez and her effect on the conquest of the Aztecs. The central contention of this paper is that without her help, the Spanish would not have been able to conquer the Aztec people. The paper portrays the historical figure of La Malinche and details her valuable knowledge and skills that assisted the Spanish. The paper concludes that although her role in the conquest of the Aztecs is without a doubt, the figure of La Malinche, however, remains ambiguous. She is seen as both a heroic figure as well as a traitor to her own country.
From the Paper "Known as the mother to the ethnic Mestizo people of Mexico, La Malinche was also known as Dona Marina, Malintzin, Malinal and Malinulli. While much of the writing about here is mythical and partially unsubstantiated, various reports and studies claim that she was undoubtedly a figure who played an important, if not vital role in the Spanish invasion and conquest of Mesoamerica. Researchers, for example, claim that she successfully "...guided Hernan Cortez into, and out of, many a battle with great success.""
A descriptive essay showing through fictitious newspaper articles and other media sources the Spanish conquest on Mexico and the character of the local Aztecs.
Abstract The author of this paper uses an original style to produce this essay which brings across the story of Spaniard Hernan Cortez's conquest of Mexico and the local Aztecs with which he fought. By conducting an 'interview' with the Chronicler Juan de Pomar and Hernan Cortez and writing an article about Cortez's success in the Mexican conquest, the paper gives an overall picture of the events of the 1519 era and the culture of the Aztec people.
From the Paper "Montecuhzoma allowed Cortez and his men into Tenochtitlan, which was not his normal policy of caution. Great diplomatic overtures were made on both sides, and at first the two warring parties almost seemed as though they might find peace.
Unfortunately that was not to be. The Spaniards were coarse, ignorant of local customs, and rude. They cared little for protocols and pleasantries. In the end, this disregard for the Aztec culture may have been what created their successful attacks and eventual takeover of Tenochtitlan- while the Aztecs were sacrificing warriors to their gods during battle, the Spaniards were killing them off in large numbers."
Abstract This paper presents an in-depth analysis of Bernal Diaz's "The Conquest of New Spain". The paper examines the shroud of mystery surrounding the details of Montezuma's death and, by utilizing the opinions of David Boruchoff and the actual text of Diaz's book, this paper briefly highlighting the key points that Diaz makes in his retelling of Montezuma's unfortunate murder. The paper then brings to light the rational faults and discrepancies within the original text and counters these apparent errors, by applying common sense and general knowledge of the era.
From the Paper " The ?readable report,? a concept from Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, is easily applicable to Bernal D?az's The Conquest of New Spain. The aforementioned ?readable report,? in a general sense, indicates that the retelling of a situation or event is portrayed in a manner that benefits the teller even if distortion of the truth is required. D?az, in his account of Montezuma's death, makes the Spanish appear blameless and seemingly innocent of Montezuma's blood. Throughout the sequence of events leading up to Montezuma's death, there are constant indictments of the Mexicans causing the death of their own leader. "
Describes the Spanish conquest of the Aztec civilization. Examines the actions of both sides in the war and attempts to discern what actions occurred out of courage or out of cowardice
1,125 words (approx. 4.5 pages), 1 source, 1997, $ 39.95
From the Paper "When the Spanish conquistadors arrived in the New World, they found a flourishing civilization firmly in place in the form of the Aztecs of Mexico. Within a short time, the Spanish had destroyed this civilization and eradicated much of its culture. In addition to the desire for conquest, gold, and similar purposes, the conquistadors were grossly offended by the idolatry of the Aztecs and by one particular religious practice, that of human sacrifice. As Leon-Portilla notes in his book The Broken Spears, the story of the conquest has been told entirely from the point of view of the conquerors, and he offers in his book the account from the side of the conquered peoples, the first of them written only seven years after the conquest:
These writings make up a brief history of the Conquest as told by the victims, and include passages written by ..."
Examines history of Spain's plans of conquest, explorers' (Columbus & Cortez) attitudes toward native people, motivations, military, religion and gold.
2,700 words (approx. 10.8 pages), 5 sources, 1999, $ 95.95
From the Paper "The purpose of this research is to examine the Hispanic colonial experience in the New World. The plan of the research will be to set forth the basis on which Spain's project of exploration and colonization can be seen as a defining moment of the social history of the entire world, and then to discuss ways in which the Spanish response to found conditions, including indigenous peoples, in the Americas reflected European attitudes of the Renaissance and appears to have influenced subsequent encounters between powerful and relatively less powerful peoples from that period onward.
Any understanding of the Spanish imperial project in the New World must be placed in the context of Spain's position in European Renaissance history. As much as military strength and stratagem, Spain exported the Spanish mind to the New World at the .."
Abstract This paper discusses some of the contemporary practices that descend from Aztec and Spanish traditions. The author concentrates on the culture of the indigenous people and how their oppression by European colonists has changed this culture.
Abstract This paper explores and negates many of the myths associated with the Spanish conquest of America. The paper points out that the allegations of Cortez's military genius and technological superiority over the Native Americans are unfounded, and, contrary to popular legend, the actual conquest of the native Indians was a long and arduous process and not a rapid and simple achievement; the concept of Spanish superiority over native Indians directly challenges what is known to be true about the native Indians' advanced and sophisticated societies.
From the Paper "The suggestion that the Conquest was achieved rapidly by defeating the native Indian armies with a small group of Spaniards acting alone is also a myth. Such tales of the Conquest, according to the Spaniards, completely disguises the incomplete nature of this event and throws a dark shadow over the roles played by the Native Indians and the free and enslaved West Africans. It is also a myth and a widespread misconception that the Conquest reduced the Native Indians of the "New World" to the point of extinction. In truth, these peoples, via diverse and profound means, displayed enormous resilience, adaptability, and vitality and even turned the impact of the Conquest into opportunity instead of disaster."
Abstract This paper is about the fourth amendment and our right to privacy. It goes into many different United States Supreme Court decisions. This paper takes an in-depth look at how the government can conduct searches without a warrant. Topics include: Searches incident to lawful arrest, searches with consent, exigent circumstances, special needs beyond law enforcement, administrative searches and inspections, stop and frisk, and the automobile exception.
From the Paper "The words search and seizure come out of our 4th amendment right, in the American constitution. Some people think that search and seizure is one continues act, but this is not true. They are actually two separate acts, each with there own meaning. Although they are separate acts, they both do fall under the fourth amendment, and are subject to the probable cause requirement. Meaning, that before a government official can lawfully search and seize something, they first must establish "probable cause," before doing so. This is done by gathering facts, either something the officer heard, saw, felt, or smelt. It is important for the officer to first establish this, because if he doesn't it can result in exclusion of the evidence obtained. For the purposes of this paper whenever I refer to the "Supreme Court," or simply "Court," I am referring to the United States Supreme Court (Court of last resort)."
Abstract This paper reviews and discusses the immigrant Japanese population within the United States who worked in agriculture in 1909. The paper discusses the discrimination and hardships these Japanese farmers faced in the USA. The paper also takes a look at the book 'Farming the Home Place' by Valerie Matsumoto which talks about the life of the immigrant Japanese farmer pre, post and during their internment.
From the Paper "The key to the community' survival during the leanest years of early economic development, a time of toil, lean meals of miso soup, and constant anxiety about economic survival was a strong sense of community involvement and common ethnic solidarity in an otherwise hostile land. The land was harsh in terms of its arid ecology and also in terms of how other Americans regarded these farmers as outsiders and interlopers. The Cortez Growers Association (CGA) provided some community structure and cohesion to the life of the farmers. Membership in the organization was contingent upon board approval and the payment of fifty dollars. From its origins, it evolved into a diversified structure, encompassing the marketing of produce, the shipping of goods, the purchase of farm supplies on a collective basis, even the drying of fruit. (Matsumoto, p.49; 53) However, far beyond a purely business related collective of farmers, the CGA created an important cultural institution. It staged traditional Noh plays for the community and provided English language and Sunday school instruction, although some members of the community retained their devout Buddhism, despite the efforts of Christian missionaries. The CGA showed how these farmers could retain their Japanese culture and still function as loyal Americans."
Tags: world, war, II, Cortez, Growers, Association, (CGA), rations, food, Issei
