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... " In the case of the conquest of Mexico, as with other conquests, history is written under the influence of the author’s culture. Expanding on this vein of logic, when two cultures clash, the view expressed by one culture is naturally biased, and this often expresses itself as a view of the opposing way of life as “the other,” wholly different from one’s own culture. ... The conquistadors’ view of the Aztecs as the “others” allowed Cortés and his troops to justify the unscrupulous treatment of the indigenous people of Mexico as they conquered the Americas.
The Aztecs initially viewed Cortés as a human representation of the god Quetzalcoatl, and gave the Spanish food, gold, and free reign of Tenochtitlán (Carey, September 16). As the Spanish were exposed to more of the Aztec culture, Cortés and his men saw more and more “offensive” behavior and later used this as part of their reason in seeking to conquer the Aztecs. ... The malevolent trick worked; the Spanish were contented with their ability to outsmart the Mexicas with a cannon and a horse, two things of which the native people had no knowledge, and with the goods the Mexicas consistently provided them with for
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some time afterward (Díaz del Castillo 61-62). This portrayed the Aztecs as somewhat gullible and technologically stunted, setting the stage for future injustices towards the Mexicas because of cultural differences. ... Díaz del Castillo in his book, The Discovery and Conquest of Mexico, claims that the Aztecs had slain Spaniards and the conquistadors have the right to avenge the deaths of their comrades.
Approximate Word count = 1196
Approximate Pages = 4.8
(250 words per page double spaced)
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