Spanish Influence Over Mexico

One of the major and more difficult goals for the Spaniards was to convert the indigenous people to Christianity. The Indigenous religion was so strange to the Spaniards that they believed the indigenous were not as evolved or progressed as they were. When Cortes was writing back to the Spanish crown he dramatized the indigenous people as savages who needed to be converted to Christianity in order to be saved. In the book Religions of Mesoamerica David Carrasco explains how, “These beliefs and missionary efforts reflected the primary attitude of the Catholic Church that the native peoples were “souls to be saved” in a global process of conversion” (Carrasco 21). To achieve their goal or religious conversion the Spanish started missionaries where Franciscans

Hernán Cortes is one of Spain's most influential explorers. He heard of the failed expeditions that had been repelled by the indians, and he believed that he could succeed where they had failed. In 1519, he landed of the coast of mexico with about 600 troops, 16 horses, and some cannons. The armour they wore and the guns, horses, and cannons had never been seen by the indians before. The message quickly got back to Moctezuma, who sent emissaries to make peace with the conquistadors. This soon was found to be unsuccessful and Cortés started making his inland trek to Tenochtitlán. As he was making his way, he ran into many villages, many of which he recruited to help him in the fight against the Aztec people. Cortés himself was thought to be Quetzalcoatl by Moctezuma, a god-king that swore to return one

The Aztecs, part of modern day Mexico, were once the epitome of fine culture. They began their rule of southern and central Mexico during the 14th century and practiced an incredibly wealthy lifestyle. Nonetheless, this rule began to deteriorate when Spanish explorers disembarked at Tabasco and Vera Cruz on April 21st 1519. When the Spanish voyagers first arrived, they were welcomed warmly, respectfully and received Godlike treatment. Montezuma, the ruler at that time, believed that the Spanish military leader, Hernán Cortés, was the great god Quetzalcoatl. The Spanish took advantage of this Aztec belief and conquered Mexico within two years. By 1521, the Aztec culture was officially eradicated and a new culture, consisting of a

Hernán Cortés was a Spanish conquistador who owned land in Cuba. He soon heard of Spanish expeditions being repelled by Indians, and as a result, he set out to do what others could not. In 1519 Cortés landed on the coast of Mexico with 600 men, 16 horses, and several cannons. He then began a trek towards the inland of Mexico where the heart of the Aztec Empire was located. Shortly after beginning his voyage, Cortés met a young Indian woman named Malinche. She served as Cortés’s advisor and translator and later helped him form alliances with local Native American tribes. Cortés made it to the Aztec capital and soon captured Moctezuma, the Aztec emperor. After forcing Moctezuma into many contracts, Cortés and his army were driven from the

The culture of Mexico reflects the country’s complex history and is the result of the gradual blending of native culture with Spanish culture and other immigrant cultures. Mexico’s culture revolves around and is most prominent in music, food, and celebrations. The combination of beliefs and customs creates the unique Mexican culture.

a city where an eagle with a snake in its beak rested on a cactus. This

The Aztecs thought the strangers to be gods returning, the Spaniards who were in complete amazement of the grandeur of the city thought the Aztecs to be barbarians and wanted to convert teach them the ways of Christ and take their riches. Spain was at this time one of the greatest powers in Europe but the Aztecs were very established in their religion, social, economical and political structure. Even more reason this became such a catastrophic event when the city was levelled and the indigenous culture destroyed. The Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire was a very significant event in the colonization of America but is also known as a major historical event. The fall of the Aztec Empire was a crucial part of the formation of New Spain, which is now known as Mexico. The Nahutl (Aztec) language is spoken by millions of Nahua people who live in Central Mexico. It has been spoken in Mexico and many parts of Central America, from Toltec times to the present. The two cultures have learned to coexist, the Aztecs learned to read and write in their language and in Spanish along with learning other necessary procedure. Some of the Aztecs mingled with the new society while others kept to their own people. The indigenous people asked the Crown for fair treatment and proper representation in

Hernan Cortez was a Spanish conquistador that landed in Mexico in April of 1519. Upon his arrival, he met a native woman named Dona marina. Dona marina spoke many languages and was eventually Cortez’s interpreter when he found the Aztec empire. It was because that the Aztecs saw Cortez as some god and the weapon differences that he took advantage of that and killed off everyone leading to a defeated Aztec empire Cortez eventually claimed Mexico for Spain. Cortez is important to history because he began the European

Mexico was one of the main points of the conquistadors’ conquest. Mexico was home to two of the biggest Pre-Colombian civilizations, the Aztecs and the Mayans. The Mayans and Aztecs both faced the wrath of the conquistadors, as they were both conquered very easily due to the Spanish’s advanced weaponry. After conquering the natives, the Spanish would rule over that land for anout 300 years. This new ruling came with new foods, races, animals, and changes that effected the natives.

Being born into a small town in Texas where a heavy influence on Mexican culture applies to almost everyone. It makes me realized that food really plays a major part in identifying myself as a Mexican. Because the food, makes our culture unique. In addition, learning to make my very first ever batch of tamales made me realized that it was a memorable experience.

The capital of the Aztec empire, Tenochtitlan, and what is known today as Mexico City was conquered in 1521 by the Spanish explorer named Hernando Cortez. Cortez was born Medellin, Spain in 1485. He was the only son of a noble family and his father was a captain in the Spanish army. He was fascinated with Christopher Columbus’ journeys in the new world. This was a far cry from his parents wish for him to be lawyer. Before reaching the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, Cortes along with Diego Velazquez, were powerful figures in the island of Cuba. Their partnership soon ended when Cortes went against Velasquez’s wishes to marry his sister and sailed to the mainland of Mexico against his orders. On 1519 Cortez reached the harbor of central Veracruz (“True Cross”). He arrived with 11 ships, 15 horses and a fleet of 500 men in search for gold. Cortes soon learned that the land was ruled by the great Aztec lord in the city of Tenochtitlán: King Monezuma II.

The Spanish conquest of Mexico drastically influenced modern day Latin America, it generated a mixture of race, countless dialects, and religious syncretism with the Catholic faith. The conquest involved three main aspects that were crucial to its success. The rise of subdued indigenous people by the Mexica. The great devastation caused by European disease to the natives. Lastly, the Spaniards ruthlessness and military superiority. Without these aspects the conquest of Mexico might have gone a different direction

Cortez and his force arrived in Tenochtitlan on November 8th, 1519. Tenochtitlan was the capital of what we know today as Mexico. Tenochtitlan was one of the largest cities in the world at that time. Tenochtitlan was run by the Aztecs. Cortes then met Montezuma, the Aztecs’s emperor. Montezuma and the Aztecs thought Hernan Cortes was a god. They thought he was Quetzalcoatl. Cortez was there at the right time because the god was supposed to arrive the same year Cortes was there. Since they thought he was a god they would do anything for his command. Later on Montezuma suspected Cortez not to be the god. He gave him gold and jewels to try and get him to leave. It had the opposite affect and increased the Spaniards greed. Cortez then captured Montezuma as hostage to prevent the Aztecs attacking.

Among many things given to the Spaniards during the first few days of contact with the Aztecs was a large chest of gold figures along many other expensive things. This gesture of good will by the Aztecs would eventually lead to their downfall. The moment Cortez started receiving all these wonderful items his mind was most likely made up that he would do whatever it took to plunder every valuable item of the Aztec kingdom. As Cortez gradually moved deeper into Aztec territory he steadily received more gifts from the Aztecs and from other city-states that surrounded Tenochtitlan. Each time Montezuma requested for Cortez and the Spaniards to return back to the coast and conduct meetings and trade from there. However, with each gift received just gave Cortez additional incentive to move towards Tenochtitlan. By the time the Spaniards were in Tenochtitlan the Aztecs saw their true colors and it was too late.

I feel that Leon-Portilla’s book is aimed for college undergraduate students learning about the colonization in the Americas, specifically the fall of the Aztecs. Many university and college professors use Leon-Portilla’s book as part of their curriculum because it serves as a tool to understand the native’s perspective to the Spanish conquest of Mexico. A history professor might be fascinated to use Leon-Portilla’s book because of the various sources that are used. Many of these sources came from the perspective of indigenous, even though some were written after the colonization of Mexico. A person who is not in any higher education institute can also find this book to be intriguing and interesting. It just depends on the person if they are