“Victors and Vanquished” “Victors and Vanquished” was written in 2000 by Stuart Schwartz. He received his Ph.D. from Colombia in 1968 specializing in the History of colonial Latin America. Schwartz’s writing on the Mexican empire is a compilation of individual’s accounts of the Spanish victory. “Victors and Vanquished” provides an outlook on the influences behind these events. Personal interests, class biases, and political views are just some of the influences for different interpretations. Following the introduction, there are chronologically organized sections detailing the events. Through the many accounts, there are different sides of each story and that is shown in each piece. Throughout Schwartz’s introduction, he presents both sides
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This introduction is separated into multiple sections for Mexican accounts and Spanish accounts. The introduction provides an unbiased view of what occurred during the Spanish victory. Schwartz is able to include accounts from both sides that inform the reader. About halfway through the introduction, Bernal Diaz is introduced. His recall of the Spanish conquest is described to be one of the best, with Schwartz stating that it is “generally agreed that the great chronicle of the Spanish conquest of Mexican was written by Bernal Diaz del Castillo” (Schwartz 14). Diaz wrote his book “The True History of the Conquest of New Spain” as a way to provide the truth. He wrote this in response to Hernan Cortes’ biography. Diaz took it upon himself to offer the “truth”.
Diaz’s account outlines his recollection of the events, but also includes the political and personal struggles. The importance of communication and translators is also stressed throughout the book. Unlike Schwartz, Diaz accounts for the technological differences between the Spanish and the indigenous people. With the different advantages, the Spanish may have had an upper
This introduction is separated into multiple sections for Mexican accounts and Spanish accounts. The introduction provides an unbiased view of what occurred during the Spanish victory. Schwartz is able to include accounts from both sides that inform the reader. About halfway through the introduction, Bernal Diaz is introduced. His recall of the Spanish conquest is described to be one of the best, with Schwartz stating that it is “generally agreed that the great chronicle of the Spanish conquest of Mexican was written by Bernal Diaz del Castillo” (Schwartz 14). Diaz wrote his book “The True History of the Conquest of New Spain” as a way to provide the truth. He wrote this in response to Hernan Cortes’ biography. Diaz took it upon himself to offer the “truth”.
Diaz’s account outlines his recollection of the events, but also includes the political and personal struggles. The importance of communication and translators is also stressed throughout the book. Unlike Schwartz, Diaz accounts for the technological differences between the Spanish and the indigenous people. With the different advantages, the Spanish may have had an upper