European colonization of the Americas

I get the impression that they didn’t treat the natives horribly, but like the French, they did not view them as equals either. From what the book says about colonists being reliant on natives, particularly relying on Tsenaccommacah corn, it is clear that they were trading. They at least had a working relationship. Later, when the Virginia Company demanded that Powhatan become a vassal a James I and he refused starting five years of altercations, this seemed like a clear sign that they did…

Over the course of history, Native Americans have become interpreted as the subject of periphery by cause of the ill assumptions of how the Christians described them as “Savages”. In the works of Christopher Columbus, Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, and Bartolomé de las Casas, the Natives characterized as positive views in such ways that they were as civilized as the Spaniards. However, negative contexts indicated that Indians created war and show no signs of respect. No matter the view, there will…

The Spanish invasion of Mesoamerica in the sixteenth century has been one of their most renowned victories. However, with a review of Restall’s work, as well as a closer look into the help that the Spanish had, reveals that the success of the Spanish was not merely their own. The Spaniards’ and natives’ common political goals, the natives’ army strength, knowledge of the land and the sharing of battle strategies and resources made the native allies a key asset to the conquest. The success of the…

The Spanish Conquest of the Aztec Empire in the early sixteenth century has been recounted by two primary documents. The True History of the Conquest of New Spain and The Broken Spears: The Aztec Account of the Conquest of Mexico both share some similarities and differences pertaining to the author's perspective on what truly happened such as the way the Spaniards were welcomed, outlook on culture, and interpretation of the war. This paper will compare both accounts of the encounters between the…

“The ‘Wretched Indians’: What We Don’t Learn in History Books” The Spanish Conquest as we know it has been largely painted as a valiant and remarkable achievement deemed justifiable through widely-accepted perceptions of European superiority. Indeed, when taught about these expeditions, rarely are we given sources that encourage us to picture the Indigenous peoples fighting on the same side as the Spaniards; After all, the textbooks say they were the ‘bad guys’ to beat, right? Matthew…

Primary Analysis over Bartolome de Las Casas Bartolome de Las Cases is a Dominican priest who wishes to protect the Indians of the New World from the brutality afflicted on them from the Spanish. Las Cases sailed to the New World in 1502 and stayed till 1547 before returning to Spain. In this time, he saw the cruelty his nation laid upon the natives in the name of Christianity. When he came back to Spain, he took up the defense of the Indians in a series of debates from 1550-1551 and a year…

Hernando Cortés also known as Hernán Cortés de Monroy y Pizarro is an explorer and a conquistador. Cortés is infamous for eliminating the amazing empire of the Aztecs. Cortés after brutally murdering the Aztecs, he claimed their native land, Mexico, for Spain. Although can Cortés be considered a hero and a villain, but can he be both? Hernando Cortés was born in Medellín, Spain in 1485. He was born in a wealthy family, but his family wasn’t as wealthy. He attended the University of Salamanca,…

Francisco Pizzaro- (1474-1541) was a Spanish conquistador he was an obscure adventurer and barbaric cruel man. In 1532, he left Spain for the New World in the wake of early discoveries. Pizzaro, discovered and overthrew the Inca Empire of Peru. Capturing the Inca King Atahualpa, the king trying to negotiate his release for freedom with his gold. Pizarro, agreed that he would release him once the gold was delivered. Pizarro collected the ransom, and ordered for the King to be executed. In 1535…

If you are lazy, then hope that you are not in the Incan Empire! The Inca would hang, stone, and push people off of cliffs for being lazy. To the Inca, being lazy was a crime similar to treason. The Maya, Aztec, and Inca are all similar and different in a few ways. The Maya, Aztec, and Inca all have some kind of Noble class in their social structure. Additionally, the Maya, Inca and Aztec were all dominated by spanish conquistadors. The Maya and Inca were ruled by monarchy. The Maya, Aztec, and…

“Food, Identity and Authenticity in Latin America” brought forth information in great detail, that I personally was not that informed about. Gomez-Rejon was able to identify the foods that were native to Mexico; as well as, foods that we traditionally claim as Mexican, but in reality they were imported. The vast majority of foods that I have loved and associated with Mexican cuisine where all brought over from trade when the Spanish came to concur Latin America. The Spanish not only brought…