Cortes:Conquest Of The Aztecs
Cortes and the Conquest of the Aztecs. The Spanish Conquest of the Aztecs stands as one of the mostsignificant and influential turning points of the western world. It openedthe way for European colonization and brought forth vast changes on thenew world that are still felt today. It changed the culture, religion, andentire way of life for the inhabitants and descendants of the entire region Since the late 1400's Spanish explorers had been charting andclaiming parts of the new world for the throne of Spain. One of theseexplorers was Hernando Cortes, who first came to the new world at theage of nineteen to seek out his fortune. Cortes was born in Medellin,Spain in 1485. At the age of fourteen he went to the University ofSalamanca to study law, but showed little interest in his studies. He firstsailed to the new world in 1504. He received a grant of land to farm andalso became a notary due to his legal training. He often went out onexpeditions to put down native rebellions, which familiarized him with thetactics of the natives. After taking part in the conquest of Cuba, Cortesbecame the mayor of Santiago. This, however, did not satisfy the gold
On February 10, 1519 Cortes set off on an expedition intoMexico that consisted of 508 swordsmen, 100 sailors, 32 crossbowmen,11 musketeers, 10 brass canons, 4 small canons, 16 horses, and a numberof dogs. A control which would last for centuries to come (Lanning, 1996). Such greattreasures were hard to deny so King Carlos I named Cortes governor andcaptain general of New Spain. Cortessent back vast quantities of gold back to Spain and said his actions hadbeen for the crown of Spain and not for his own ambitions. He then persuaded Narvaez'sremaining men to join his ranks. On April 12 the emissaries met with theSpaniards, but Montezuma's plan of giving gifts to get the Spaniards toleave would only fuel their lust for gold even further (Glabert, 1968). He spoke of two floating mountains off the coast fromwhich pale, bearded men came from. Montezuma's forces made an attempt to haltthe Spaniards, but were unsuccessful in doing so. So when Cortes landed near the present day city ofVeracruz, he had a translation team capable of communicating with thenative inhabitants (Faber, 1992). Cortesattacked at night and captured Narvaez. With a force of little over 600 men, Cortes defeated a vast empire whoseinhabitants numbered close to 7 million. In the spring of 1519 a native messenger came to the court ofMontezuma. When Cortes came back to Tenochtitlan,he found the Aztecs greatly angered by their harsh treatment at the handsof the Spanish. Cortes exploited thelegend of Quetzalcoatl and weapons that the natives had never seen toforge alliances with those he defeated and tribes that despised the Aztecsto aid him in his conquest. After defeating a smallgroup of natives near present day Tobasco, the Spaniards were given giftsof gold and twenty women.
Common topics in this essay:
Mexico City,
Mayan Cortes,
Cortes February,
Aztecs Cortes,
Montezuma Cortes,
Conquest Aztecs,
University Salamanca,
Spaniards Montezuma's,
Spanish June,
City Cortes,
conquest aztecs,
spanish conquest aztecs,
european colonization,
entire region,
near day,
1519 cortes,
defeated tribes,
mexico city,
lanning 1996,
world european,
aztecs cortes,
world european colonization,
|
Acceptance Essays
