Cortez
Cortez was a Spanish conqueror. He had heard of the expeditions of Columbus, and several other explorers, and had heard the stories of religious freedom and the vast amounts of gold in the land. Yet, many of these previous explorers had failed in their attempts by losing to the natives. Cortez, wanting the power, thought that he could succeed in a task done by none other. With this goal in mind, he brought artillery, horses and several hundred men. He then began his journey towards modern day Mexico City, which back then, was the Aztec capital back then, known as Tenochtitlan. He had a translator to help him on his journey, named Dona Marina, who knew the Mayan, Aztec, and Spanish language. As he arrived in Tenochtitlan, he wrote about the hospitality given by the Aztecs in a letter to Charles the Fifth:
The following morning, they came out of the city to greet me with many trumpets and drums, including many persons whom they regard as priests in their temples, dressed in traditional vestments and singing after their fashion, as they do in the temples. With such ceremony they led us into the city and gave us very good quarters, where all those in my company were most comfortable.
Appreciating the hospitality, the Aztecs had other reasons for their hospitality: They had believed that Cortez was a God, who had come to help. Montezuma’s account for this experience validates this belief. The following is an excerpt from Montezuma’s speech to Cortez when Cortez first arrived:
Our lord, you are weary. The journey has tired you, but now you have arrived on the earth. You have come to your city, Mexico. You have come here to sit on your throne, to sit under its canopy.
The following morning, they came out of the city to greet me with many trumpets and drums, including many persons whom they regard as priests in their temples, dressed in traditional vestments and singing after their fashion, as they do in the temples. With such ceremony they led us into the city and gave us very good quarters, where all those in my company were most comfortable.
Appreciating the hospitality, the Aztecs had other reasons for their hospitality: They had believed that Cortez was a God, who had come to help. Montezuma’s account for this experience validates this belief. The following is an excerpt from Montezuma’s speech to Cortez when Cortez first arrived:
Our lord, you are weary. The journey has tired you, but now you have arrived on the earth. You have come to your city, Mexico. You have come here to sit on your throne, to sit under its canopy.
Effect on European Power
Montezuma, ancient leader of the Aztecs
But, how did this affect Europe’s power?
Directly, it did not, yet indirectly it did. If the Aztecs would not have viewed Cortez, they would have immediately attempted to drive him out. In fact, Montezuma was weary, and not actually sure if the God had arrived. Not knowing what to do, Montezuma assumed that if he sent gifts consisting of gold and silver, the strangers would not attack, in the sense that the strangers would appreciate the gifts and leave. Yet, this only made Cortez wish to invade more. After he had received a large sum of gold and silver, he realized that this city had more to offer. As a result of Montezuma’s gift-giving, Cortez decided to continue with his plan of conquering.
One of Spain’s goals was to convert people to Christianity; yet failed at first. Montezuma resisted this conversion, resulting in the King being captured by Cortez’s crew. They then forced Montezuma to give his land to the Spanish, yet Aztecs managed to drive these invaders out. Cortez was angered. In 1521, he reinvaded Tenochtitlan, and recaptured the city with this invasion, later calling it Mexico City.
This gave Europe power in several ways:
First, Spain got the gold that was all over the city. This boosted Spain’s economy, as well as giving them easy access to take over the rest of the Aztec empire. They were able to continue and add new crops to the already growing Colombian exchange, including sugar, various fruits, as well as wheat and other grain. They brought various crops such as corn and potatoes back to Europe. These new healthy food sources caused a population growth in Europe. In addition, according to Charles C Mann, a historical author, even before Cortez had arrived in the “New World”, an estimated 50% of the Aztecs had been infected with smallpox, lowering Tenochtitlan’s population before their invasion. In fact, a few centuries after the beginning of these invasions, Europe had a gained a population of over 75 million people, while as the American population had decreased to nearly 25 million, 15-25 million less than what it was in 1492. The conquest of more land allowed people to spread. Since this Aztec land was now owned by the Spanish, they could tax people, gaining money for their economy.
Directly, it did not, yet indirectly it did. If the Aztecs would not have viewed Cortez, they would have immediately attempted to drive him out. In fact, Montezuma was weary, and not actually sure if the God had arrived. Not knowing what to do, Montezuma assumed that if he sent gifts consisting of gold and silver, the strangers would not attack, in the sense that the strangers would appreciate the gifts and leave. Yet, this only made Cortez wish to invade more. After he had received a large sum of gold and silver, he realized that this city had more to offer. As a result of Montezuma’s gift-giving, Cortez decided to continue with his plan of conquering.
One of Spain’s goals was to convert people to Christianity; yet failed at first. Montezuma resisted this conversion, resulting in the King being captured by Cortez’s crew. They then forced Montezuma to give his land to the Spanish, yet Aztecs managed to drive these invaders out. Cortez was angered. In 1521, he reinvaded Tenochtitlan, and recaptured the city with this invasion, later calling it Mexico City.
This gave Europe power in several ways:
First, Spain got the gold that was all over the city. This boosted Spain’s economy, as well as giving them easy access to take over the rest of the Aztec empire. They were able to continue and add new crops to the already growing Colombian exchange, including sugar, various fruits, as well as wheat and other grain. They brought various crops such as corn and potatoes back to Europe. These new healthy food sources caused a population growth in Europe. In addition, according to Charles C Mann, a historical author, even before Cortez had arrived in the “New World”, an estimated 50% of the Aztecs had been infected with smallpox, lowering Tenochtitlan’s population before their invasion. In fact, a few centuries after the beginning of these invasions, Europe had a gained a population of over 75 million people, while as the American population had decreased to nearly 25 million, 15-25 million less than what it was in 1492. The conquest of more land allowed people to spread. Since this Aztec land was now owned by the Spanish, they could tax people, gaining money for their economy.
Pizarro
Francisco Pizarro was another Spanish Conqueror, who took himself and his crew to Peru, to invade the Inca’s. This tribe was believed to have even greater riches than those which Cortez had obtained in the Aztec lands during the latter invasion. In addition to these riches, Pizarro wished, like Cortes, to convert the citizens to Christianity. The ruler of the Aztecs, at the time, Atahualpa, did not convert to Christianity. Atahualpa was not a weak man; according to Francisco de Xerez, a man who accompanied Pizarro on his journey, described Atahualpa as "A man of thirty years...poised, somewhat stout, with a wide...ferocious face, and the eyes flaming with blood". With several allies, Pizarro killed thousands of Incas, and captured their beloved ruler. As a scheme to gain money, Pizarro and his crew held Atahualpa ransom, and after they received the money, they executed the ruler.
A selection from one of Pizarro's men accounts the death and capture of Atahualpa: They brought out Atahualpa to execution; and, when he came into the square, he said he would become a Christian. The Governor was informed, and ordered him to be baptized. The ceremony was performed by the very reverend Father Friar Vicente de Valverde. The Governor then ordered that he should not be burned, but that he should be fastened to a pole in the open space and strangled. This was done, and the body was left until the morning of the next day, when the monks, and the Governor with the other Spaniards, conveyed it into the church, where it was interred with much solemnity, and with all the honors that could be shown it. Such was the end of this man, who had been so cruel.
A selection from one of Pizarro's men accounts the death and capture of Atahualpa: They brought out Atahualpa to execution; and, when he came into the square, he said he would become a Christian. The Governor was informed, and ordered him to be baptized. The ceremony was performed by the very reverend Father Friar Vicente de Valverde. The Governor then ordered that he should not be burned, but that he should be fastened to a pole in the open space and strangled. This was done, and the body was left until the morning of the next day, when the monks, and the Governor with the other Spaniards, conveyed it into the church, where it was interred with much solemnity, and with all the honors that could be shown it. Such was the end of this man, who had been so cruel.
Encomiendas
As Spanish conquistadores began to invade the Americas, taking over several native tribes, they were given encomiendas. These were statements, which allowed invaders to force the natives to give up their land, and time for the Spaniards. The Natives were harshly worked, in terrible living. People who refused would be tortured, and then killed. Much of these encomiendas were used to force the Natives to work in mines, which gave Europe access to tons of precious minerals, including silver. Many Spanish priests, though, believed that these encomiendas were wretched, and wrote a request to the Spanish government to end the encomiendas given to the American explorers. Spain eventually made laws banning this treatment of the Natives, yet being transatlantic from America; it was nearly impossible to enforce those laws.
A simple set of numbers can help show the impact these encomiendas had on the Natives. In 1570, decades after the enslavement was in progress, 96.2% of the natives made up the population of Latin America. Just eighty years later that number dropped by nearly 15% as Africans, brought in by the transatlantic slave trade, were used to replace the quickly diminishing native population, nearly becoming a genocide on the Native Americans. Only a small number are living in the Americas today.
A simple set of numbers can help show the impact these encomiendas had on the Natives. In 1570, decades after the enslavement was in progress, 96.2% of the natives made up the population of Latin America. Just eighty years later that number dropped by nearly 15% as Africans, brought in by the transatlantic slave trade, were used to replace the quickly diminishing native population, nearly becoming a genocide on the Native Americans. Only a small number are living in the Americas today.
Cultural Impact
A gospel choir.
Europeans, the living natives, and African Slaves eventually began to blend cultures. Africans improved the farming system, bringing methods, which they had used in their homeland. With the Europeans converting the Africans to Christianity, the Africans began to introduce new songs and dancing to the traditional Christian services, eventually bringing gospel music to America. In several Caribbean nations, a blend of both the Christian religion as well as previous African beliefs blended, forming new religions.
Social Classes in The Spanish Colonies
A family of Peninsulares and Creoles
In the Spanish colonies, the society was made up of distinctive social classes. At the top were the Peninsulares, people born in Spain. The Peninsulares were the most important people in society, holding the highest positions in both the colonial governments and the Catholic Church. After the Peninsulares, came the Creoles, which were American-born descendants of Spanish settlers. Creoles owned many of the plantations, ranches, and mines. The Peninsulares and Creoles controlled the Spanish colonies in the Americas.
After the Peninsulares, and the Creoles came the Mestizos, they were people of Native American and European descent. Then there were the Mulattoes, the people of African and European descent. Native Americans and people of African descent formed the lowest social class.
Imperialism impacted Latin America enormously; the Spanish took complete control of the area. The Spanish culture influenced Latin America, because of the importance of the Spanish going back to when the Spanish colonies existed. You can still see how predominant the Spanish culture is if you go down to Latin America today.
After the Peninsulares, and the Creoles came the Mestizos, they were people of Native American and European descent. Then there were the Mulattoes, the people of African and European descent. Native Americans and people of African descent formed the lowest social class.
Imperialism impacted Latin America enormously; the Spanish took complete control of the area. The Spanish culture influenced Latin America, because of the importance of the Spanish going back to when the Spanish colonies existed. You can still see how predominant the Spanish culture is if you go down to Latin America today.