Question

Instructions for Documentary Evaluation: History of Mexico: The invasion of the Aztec empire

What is the historical background of this documentary?

Summarize the most events in the documentary.

Do you think this documentary is biased and do you think it presents the issues in fair manner?

What is your reaction to this documentary? What is your opinion and would you recommend it to another student.?

Answer 1

Hernan cortes was was a Spanish conquistador , or the conqueror . He is best remembered for conquering the Aztec empire in 152 and claiming Mexico for Spain. He always helped the colonize Cuba and there by became the governor of New Spain. He was very smart , ambitious man who wanted to appropriate new land for Spanish crown , plunder the lands for gold and riches and convert inhabitants to Catholicism.

Cortes was born in 1485 in Medellin Spain. He is only one son for not wealthy parents. He studied law at the University of Salamanca at the age of 14 . He is always eager to be a part of the dynamic movement.

Cortes spent almost seven years on Hispaniola ,living in the new town of Azua and worked as a notary and farmer. Then in 1511,he joined Diego Velasque z's expedition to conquer Cuba . He served as clerk to the treasurer and later as mayor of Santiago.

He is always hungry towards more power and greater thrills, despite of his success. He convinced the governor of Cuba in letting him lead an expedition to Mexico.

In 1519 ,Cortes came to Mexico which has been discovered by the Spanish just a year prior and were eager in settling it. He is interested in converting natives to Christianity. At Tabasco, Cortes was met with resistance from natives. He quickly overpowered them and the natives surrendered.They provided the Europeans with food , supplies and 20 women including an interpreter called Malintzin. She became bilingual by speaking Aztec and Mayan Languages which made her very useful to Cortes.

After few months Cortes headed the west in Yucatan. On the southern coast he founded Veracruz where he dismissed the authority of Velasquez and declared himself under orders from King Charles I of Spain.

Cortes had heard of the Aztecs and knew that they and their leader Montezuma II were a primary force in Mexico. The Aztec god Quetzalcoatl,whom they credited with the creation of humans among other notable feats ,was set to return to Earth.

The Aztecs were fascinated by the Spaniards light skin and the sight of men on horseback ,which they described as beasts with two heads and six legs.

Cortes entered the city ,sacked it and took Montezuma hostage. The Spanish army had help in sacking the city . Though he enslaved much of the native population ,other indigenous groups were fundemental to his success according to his Cosme. The Aztecs were not always popular rulers among their subjected cities. Cortes took this as advantage , as an opportunity to deatory the Aztec empire said te Cosme , a uler in the city Talaxcala.

Spaniards still had superior weaponary -canno s,guns,swords-the additional knowledge on Aztec fighting styles and defended given by Xicotenga ,plus the additional men,gave Cortes a helpful edge.

Cortes was always contraversial because if his treatment to the natives in Mexico . He was nevertheless, important in his reshaping of the world. His victory secured new and profitable land and opportunities for the Spanish monarch.