Conquest of Mexico Essay -- essays research papers fc

Conquest of Mexico   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In 1519 Hernà ¡n Cortà ©s led a couple hundred other Spaniards inland to the impressive Empire of the Mexica ruled by the Great Montezuma. Many historians today tell how quickly and almost effortlessly these Spaniards conquered the Empire. They paint an image of ignorant, helpless Indians practically giving up their land out of fear of this group because certainly the Spaniards must be gods since they have powerful weapons and strange animals. We know neither Cortà ©s nor any of his men were gods, of course, but what was it that allowed Cortà ©s to prevail over the inhabitants of the land? The First Expeditions To begin, in 1517 Francisco Hernà ¡ndez de Cà ³rdova, Bernal Dà ­az del Castillo, and some other gentlemen embarked on a journey to explore new lands in hopes of seeking employment since they had yet to find it in their new home of Cuba. In need of additional provisions, the governor of Cuba, Diego Velà ¡squez, loaned the group supplies and a boat with the agreement that they return with Indians to be used as slaves. At Cape Catoche of the Yucatan Peninsula, Cà ³rdova’s men first encountered a group of Indians who at first appeared friendly and welcoming only to draw those who disembarked along the road to their village where they then ambushed the explorers. In that battle, fifty soldiers died and the captain and the remaining men all suffered many wounds. The explorers continued to receive this type of reception from the Indians they encountered at every stop along the coast of the peninsula. Nearly dieing of thirst for want of fresh water, Cà ³rdova and his men tried again and again to safely land and gain casks of fresh water. At Champoton they encountered fresh water. Yet again they met with hostile, warring Indians. Only one man escaped without harm, but the Indians captured him. Once the Indians retreated, Cà ³rdova and his men quickly filled the casks with fresh water and returned to their ship. In light of the fact that the voyage proved to be somewhat of a disaster and all the men were either ill or wounded, they decided to return at once to Havana. (Dà ­az) Once in Havana, Cà ³rdova sent a report to Governor Velà ¡squez word of their return. In addition to reporting about the warring natives, Cà ³rdova described the discovery of heavily populated lands where the people lived in masonry houses, wore cotton garments,... ... Spaniards, and various Indians battled day after day often regaining what they had lost in the night as they retreated for rest. Cortà ©s had previously been adamant about only causing harm to the Indians when absolutely necessary. The new lord refused to withdraw and admit defeat. Finally, Cortà ©s called for all buildings to be decimated. He had envoys at all entrances to the city by that time, and escape was impossible. July 26, 1520, after 12,000 dead, Cortà ©s claimed Mexico City for Spain. Works Cited Cortà ©s, Hernando. 5 Letters of Cortà ©s to the Emperor 1529 – 1526. Trans. J. Bayard Morris. New York: W. W. Norton, 1962. Dà ­az del Castillo, Bernal. The Discovery and Conquest of Mexico,1517 – 1521/Edited from the only exact copy of the original MS. (and published in Mexico) by Genaro Garcà ­a. Translated with an introd. And notes by A.P. Maudslay. Introd. To the American ed. By Irving A. Leonard. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Cudahy, 1956. Helly, Mathilde. Montezuma and the Aztecs/Mathilde Helly and Rà ©mi Courgeon. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1996. Morris, J. Bayard, trans. 5 Letters of Cortà ©s to the Emperor 1529 – 1526. By Hernando Cortà ©s. New York: W. W. Norton, 1962.