Abstract This paper explains that Hugh Thomas, in his book "Conquest: Montezuma, Cortes and the Fall of Old Mexico", understood that the story of the Aztecs and their conquest by the remarkable strangers who came from beyond the sea has hypnotic powers; therefore, he provides a vivid recounting, never allowing the main elements of the story to be overwhelmed by his exhaustive research, cautiously balancing the rival interpretations and the viewpoint of modern moralists. The author points out that Thomas sees the Spanish from the Aztec's perspective as greedy, cruel and stinking in every respect. The paper describes that Aztecs as people who believed themselves to be the chosen people among the other tribes in Mexico and whose religion demanded mass human sacrifices. Long quotations.
From the Paper "Thomas does not lapse into amorality, but he does not allow a single doubt that both the Aztecs and their Spanish conquerors were morally vile beyond all human conception. He doesn't waste time trying to plead a case for relativity for any of them. He manages, somehow, to display whatever was brave, beautiful or curious about them. After the Emperor Montezuma was taken into custody by the Spanish, Thomas writes that the captive "continued to seem to rule.""
This paper describes the unique civilization of the Aztecs, who lived in the land known today as Mexico and were conquered by the Spanish much like the Incas and the Mayas.
Abstract This paper explains that the Aztecs were known as "the people of the sun", which captures the meaning placed on the sun by the Aztecs and their way of life. The author points out that one interesting belief of the Aztecs, from their oral teachings, is their adaptation of the Nativity, as found in the Christian Bible, which the Aztecs called the "Spirit Child" and was recited accompanied by drums. The paper relates that one of the most mighty leaders of this civilization was Montezuma (1502-1521), who was an extraordinary builder; however, one week after the arrival of the Spanish, Emperor Montezuma was captured and the Spanish had gained total control of this great civilization.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Adaptation of the Nativity
Conquering Tenochtitlan
Montezuma Everyday Life
Characteristics of the People
Religion
Human Sacrifice
Spanish Conquest
From the Paper "Everyday life in this city was also spectacular and unlike any day in present times. They awoke every morning to the sound of the giant drums. They would bathe in the canals of the city and the women would begin to make corn cakes for the day, today known as tortillas. They rarely ate breakfast, and would immediately set out to the fields to work. .... All of Aztec life depended on the peasant farmer. He had to grow all of the basic foods of the nation; corn, beans, peppers, and squash. This he did with no expensive machines, or extra workers, and he produced the same amount of crops that the southern sharecropper makes today."
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. "
Abstract This paper presents a positive review of Johannsen's book,"To the Halls of the Montezumas," and explains that the focus of the book is on the way the media of that era portrayed the Mexican-American war and is less about the history of the war itself.
From the Paper "The thesis of the book To the Halls of the Montezumas by Robert W. Johannsen is that the Mexican-American War was America's first foreign war, even though Mexico was not the first foreign power America ever fought. Johannsen says that this war defined America's identity as an international power mainly because of the way it was narrated to the American people through the American press. It was the first war that Americans felt like they were engaged in a moral war against a foreign power, rather than simply fighting for their territorial integrity as a nation and their values of freedom, liberty, and self-determination, as was true of the Revolutionary war."
Abstract This paper examines Fernando Cortes' life, explorations and findings. It details his history dating back from his childhood to his voyages through the America?s. The author feels that Cortes's legacy to the new world was a mixed one. This essay comments on why.
From the paper:
?The first ship that Cortes sent back to Spain contained two large wheels, one fashioned of gold and the other of silver, gold jewelry, and a variety of other items embellished with gold, pearls, and precious jewels. While Cortes had stated that he was giving up his share of the gold to the Spanish government, there was a large parcel of it sent to his father.?
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."
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 ..."
This paper discusses the destruction of the Aztec Empire the advanced Mexican civilization, by the 16th Century Spanish invaders: Cortes, Spaniards' needs and aims, depopulation of Indians and Montezuma.
2,475 words (approx. 9.9 pages), 5 sources, 1985, $ 87.95
From the Paper "The period of exploration of the New World was also a period of exploitation as European adventurers and armies encountered the native population and took advantage of that population, robbing the civilizations found here and decimating the population. The Aztecs had a mighty civilization in the New World that was destroyed by the Conquistadors in the name of greed and Christianity. The Aztecs were regarded as uncivilized heathens, and their lands were taken from them, their goods were stolen, and their leaders murdered.
Aztec civilization--and it was indeed a civilization--created its most extraordinary achievements in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. It received a sudden and painful defeat at the hands of the Spanish army in 1519-1521. Aztec civilization flourished in the Valley of Mexico, a tiny area in comparison with the total ... "
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 From the Hall of Montezuma, to the shores of Tripoli, the Marines have fought near and far, on the land, the air, and sea. Marines have a certain aura around them, something that makes them seem more than just a soldier. This paper describes the founding of the Marines and their participation in military engagements. Along with the general history, specific Marines who made an impact in the Marine Corps history are also discussed as well as why their contributions were of significance.
From the Paper "The Mexican-American War was fought between 1846 and 1848 in a dispute over the modern day central plains/ west coast region. The annexation of Texas was seen as an act of war by the Mexican government and hostilities began. Marines fought on both the Pacific and Gulf coasts seizing Mexican seaports and halting trade to diminish their economy and prevent them from re-supply. General Scott and the U.S. Marines came to Chapultepec Castle where the last stand took place. Scott and the Marines bombarded the fort for two straight days and charged in on the third. The occupation of this Mexican stronghold signified the end of the Mexican-American War. The historic value of the war comes from the Marines raid with General Winfield Scott on their attack into the "Halls of Montezuma", also known as Chapultepec Castle, which has been immortalized in the opening line of the Marines hymn. "
