In Chapter 1, the lives of the Mexica caught my attention. The Mexica were people whose empire stretched from coast to coast across central Mexico and who numbered as many as 2 million. “By the 1490s the Mexica ruled an empire that covered more land than Spain and Portugal combined (Roark, 19)”. They were considered the strong arm in the neighborhood. The Mexica were hired out as mercenaries by the much richer and more settled tribes. It’s amazing to know that a small nobility of Mexican warriors supported by a still smaller priesthood possessed the military and religious power to command the obedience of thousands of non-noble Mexicans and of non-Mexicans in subjugated colonies. Mexica collected tributes from Conquered tribes. These tributes
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Apart from the brutal treatment, the slaves struggled with other issues. They were forced to come to a new world where no one spoke their language, leaving behind their families and their belongings. Not only did they lose everything, they were left demoralized, disoriented and depressed. The majority of the slaves were poorly nourished, weak and sick. Many of the slaves died from diseases and other sicknesses. The slaves as a whole were not capable of going up against their oppressors. Any sign of confrontation “led to swift and predictable retaliation by whites (Roark, 116)”. Eventually, a group of 20 slaves rebelled against a country store. The rebellion was later named the Stono Rebellion. The group of 20 slaves attacked the country store and killed two store keepers. They also confiscated the stores guns, ammunition and powder. As the rebellion continued, the group enticed other slaves to join the group. The rebellion continued as they pillaged and burned more than half a dozen plantations and killed more than 20 white men, women, and children. The rebellion faced a mounted force of white men who successfully stopped the group of slaves. The Stono Rebellion was said to be evidence that “eighteenth-century slaves had no chance of overturning slavery (Roark, 116)”. I can’t imagine having my freedom and liberties taken away by someone or
Apart from the brutal treatment, the slaves struggled with other issues. They were forced to come to a new world where no one spoke their language, leaving behind their families and their belongings. Not only did they lose everything, they were left demoralized, disoriented and depressed. The majority of the slaves were poorly nourished, weak and sick. Many of the slaves died from diseases and other sicknesses. The slaves as a whole were not capable of going up against their oppressors. Any sign of confrontation “led to swift and predictable retaliation by whites (Roark, 116)”. Eventually, a group of 20 slaves rebelled against a country store. The rebellion was later named the Stono Rebellion. The group of 20 slaves attacked the country store and killed two store keepers. They also confiscated the stores guns, ammunition and powder. As the rebellion continued, the group enticed other slaves to join the group. The rebellion continued as they pillaged and burned more than half a dozen plantations and killed more than 20 white men, women, and children. The rebellion faced a mounted force of white men who successfully stopped the group of slaves. The Stono Rebellion was said to be evidence that “eighteenth-century slaves had no chance of overturning slavery (Roark, 116)”. I can’t imagine having my freedom and liberties taken away by someone or