l. "In this position the young warrior looked into the eyes of a ferocious priest who approached with a long, sharp dagger, which he drove into the prisoner's chest under the last rib and across the belly and reaching with his left hand into the cavity to tear out the living heart" (pg. 158). The Aztecs and Altomecs were thought of as barbarians but in time they came to realize their mistakes; which weakened them and lead to their downfall.
             April 21, 1519 the year of Aztec reckoning--marked the opening of a short but decisive chapter in Mexico's history. The Spanish raged war on the Indian Aztecs causing their kingdom to crumble with little effort. "In the next five days the Spaniards destroyed more than two thousands Altomec statues, burned nearly half a mile of tanned animals hides on which the history of the city had been recorded, and eradicated almost all visible signs of culture" (pg.343). The triumphant efforts by the Spanish allowed what was left of the Aztecs to live together in peace and harmony. The fictional characters incorporated by Michener, Antonio and Tomeito, are the high priest rulers of the city of Toledo in Mexico. Anto
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