Spanish Conquistadors DBQ
In one of his speeches to his men, Cortez spoke of the great rewards that will come to them, his men, for their services. Without disguising it at all Cortez tells his men that they will be "the richest of all men who have crossed the seas," "engaging in a ... war which will bring [them] fame," and "Almighty God, in whose name and faith [war] will be waged." All in the same speech, Cortez had his men understand their reasoning for being in the Americas. These motives were of Gold, God and Glory. Not a century after Columbus' voyage to the "Indies," the Spaniards were left without any exotic spices, flowers, etc. So they made the best of the situation and used the New World to catapult their wealth as shown by excerpts of a Spanish proclamation, Bernal Diaz and Hernan Cortez, spread the faith of the Catholic Church as emphasized by Cortez, de Sepulveda, the Pope and de las Casas, and create a name for themselves as stated by Bernal Diaz, Cortez and de Sepulveda. Spanish attitudes towards the Natives were influenced by these motives resulting mainly in cultural chauvinism and disrespect, and also protection of the Natives. Dreams of riches provided a backbone for many of Spain's vie for renown in the unexplored lands, both a
" According to the Pope, the Indians should be considered truly men and not continue to slaughter them. According to Cortez (3), a Spanish conquistador, everyone who joined him would get in return riches and gifts form the new land because, being a conquistador, he feels that God will most likely favor their Spanish nation over a land inhabited by Natives. Since de Sepulveda was known to side with the conquistadors, he viewed the Indians as Aristotle's theory of barbarians, "natural slaves". "If the people allowed them to be ill-treated, . His perspective and attitude towards the Indians is chauvinist one because of how he feels that God favors them and that they are superior culturally. His perspective, being a Spanish conquistador, was that these idols were just wrong, unholy and inferior compared to his Spanish, Catholic religion, which again implies chauvinism. All of the Spanish goals were, for the most part, achieved. Being the king and queen, they viewed the natives as lost cultural wise, and therefore wanted to influence their culture and beliefs with that of Spain's. they would take away the fruits of the soil an cause the people to die of want," stated Cortez. As emphasized by Cortez (4), the leading Spanish conquistador, there were many beautiful buildings in different precincts, but the idols the natives believed in weren't, of his thought, of much value so he took them down and put up Christian images in them.
Common topics in this essay:
Ferdinand Isabella,
Natives Dreams,
Bernal Diaz,
According Cortez,
Indians Cortez,
Catholic Church,
Spain Charles',
Cortez Cortez's,
Spanish Catholic,
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de sepulveda,
bernal diaz,
spanish culture,
de las casas,
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de las,
las casas,
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attitude towards,
fame glory,
towards natives,
de sepulveda 5,
juan de sepulveda,
excerpts spanish proclamation,
bernal diaz 2,
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Acceptance Essays
