Conquest of mexico

"Is Hernan Cortez Guilty of violating International Laws?"

The discovery of the New World was part of the remarkable European expansion. This expansion was possible due to the European's technical skills in navigation, their economic status in maritime and military enterprise, their interest in spreading Christianity and their determination to gain new lands and wealth.

The Spaniards reached the New World in a conquest spirit. Spain's exploration of the New World was driven by their interest in expansion of their empire and spread of Catholicism. Many of the dedicated missionaries who embarked on the explorations were consistent in their purpose to, as they put it, " save the souls of the heathen Indians". For the conquerors like Hernan Cortez and Fransisco Pizarro their motivation was no doubt more complex.

Hernan Cortez was born in Medillin, Spain in 1485. His Father fought against the Moors and his mother was an honest religious woman. After failing as a student Cortez came to the New World following in his father footsteps. He became involved in many expeditions and in 1518-1519 the governor of Cuba, Velazques motivated to acquire the riches of the land, wan

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Why is this? Due to the manner in which the Spaniards conquered Mexico they have often been accused of violating international laws. By November of 1519 Cortez arrived at Tenochtitlan and Motecuhzuma greeted him warmly. Closing the passages and gates to the place where the festival was being held the Spanish ran among the dancers and killed them. According to the Aztecs the Spanish were encouraged to destroy Cholula by their allies the Tlaxcaltecas. Cortez's deputy, Pedro de Alvarado, who was paranoid of the Aztecs was seized with an urge to kill the celebrants. At this point the ruler of Tenochtitlan, Motecuhzuma was very troubled but he believed that Cortez was actually the Aztec god Quetzacoatl. Cortez, however motivated by greed and power seized Motecuhzuma as a hostage hoping to gain wealth from a large ransom and to forestall an Aztec attack. The freely gave him gold and gifts.

In the beginning of the conquest Cortez may not have had the intent to kill or wage war of aggression but he surely was prepared in the event there was a need. However, the extent of his actions was unacceptable. These are clear example to show that Cortez is guilty of Crimes against Humanity. As accounted in the book 'Broken Spears", on the day that Tenochtitlan was taken, the Spaniards committed some of the most brutal acts ever inflicted upon the unfortunate people of the land. This shows that the Aztecs did not intend to flight.

Bibliography

Modern Latin American 4th edition

Thomas E. And this they did as some 3000 Cholultecas were killed in a period of several days.

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Approximate Word count = 1457
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

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