The Conquistadores’ History in The Letter of Hernan Cortes to Charles V of Spain

The Letter of Hernan Cortes to Charles V of Spain dated 1520 reveals the four main aspects of the Spanish conquistadores: their "first contact" experience, their mission, their reactions and their expectations.

"The ostensible reason for entering Meso-America was to exploit the land of its gold, silver and precious stones" - this was their treasured interest. Cortes gives his Majesty a detailed account of the ethnography of the indigenous Indians, interspersed with his own biased prejudice, steeped in his Catholic faith.

The picture that he portrays of the native Indians tarnishes them with a negative image, one observes that he contrasts many aspects of their lives to the generally hated Moors in Spain. He calls them "barbarians" and their faith "the religion of the devil."

Order custom essay The Conquistadores’ History in The Letter of Hernan Cortes to Charles V of Spain with free plagiarism report

450+ experts on 30 subjects Starting from 3 hours delivery

Get Essay Help

The conquistadores are horrified, shocked and aghast at the rites and ceremonies of the Indians.

Yet they were delighted with the gold and precious stones which the difference of religious conviction arouses the desire in the Spaniards to evangelize and convert the pagan believers of the New World, thus fomenting commonality to facilitate dominion over them.

The Pope is the authority sought after to sanction the deployment of priests and friars to attain this end. Cortes also believed that introducing Catholicism would stem a great tide of evil as non-compliance to the Christendom's decrees inevitably results in Persecution.

One learns that the Amerindian society was hierarchized through their style of dress, and servants. There is a clear description of the Indians' physiognomy, beautiful environment and climate.

The conquistador history, documented by Bartolome de las Casas, historian and Spanish Dominican friar, analyses the natures of the Indigenous Indians and the Conquistadores in his masterpieces, La Historia de las Indias or The History of the Indies (1527) and La Relación de la Destrucción de las Indias, A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies (1542).

The Indians are meek, tractable, docile, innocent, lack greed, and are content with their penury whereas the Spanish are aggressive, exploiting, corrupt, greedy and bloodthirsty.

The philanthropic turned friar, Bartolome de las Casas argues for their basic human rights and pleads for justice on their behalf to the King of Spain. There is an absence of law, order, justice and protection for the vulnerable Indians so De las Casas takes their case before the High Court of Spain.

Mass massacres, genocides, and near annihilation of the natives, and destruction left in the wake of the Persecutors awaken pity within the breast of De las Casas. Through this description De las Casas hopes to put an end to these monstrosities of the power intoxicated governors and their venal henchmen.

Forced conversions, coerced allegiance to the King, the Pope and God, webs of falsehood and cruel deceit, exploitation, slavery, plunder and torture characterize the heavy- handed rule of the Spaniards. De las Casas bemoans the fate of Spain and the impending divine retribution for the immoral deeds of the Newcomers.

The account of Bernal Diaz de Castillo "Historia Verdadera de la Conquista de la Nueva España" or the Conquest of New Spain (1560) is a companion of the conquistadores diaries and memorialises his critical impressions of the society of Tenochtitlan - a metropolis of MesoAmerica: its developed status, sophistication, religion and possessions.

In this passage, they are taken on a tour of his province by the chief Montezuma II. The striking thing is the orderly arrangement of the market place, trade, commerce and the splendid merchandise on sale especially the gold, silver, precious stones, fine goods, cotton, livestock, vegetables, herbs, tobacco, chocolate and slaves.

One learns as well of the rudimentary African slave trade in which the Portuguese conducted. Another wonder to the conquistadores was the religious rites and ceremonies of the Indians. Their temples, human sacrifices and gods evoked marvel and desire to convert the Amerindians to the Holy Catholic Faith Christendom professed in Europe.

The golden gods of the Amerindians decked with precious stones excited the Spaniards' greed while the human sacrifices, and spiritual culture repulsed them. The imposition of the Christianity on the Native Indians meet with hostility.

This "conquistador" expounds on the cultural disparities into the manners and demeanour existing between the Indians of Tenochtitlan, Mexico and his own native Spain. Intrinsically, the Indians are yielding, as they greet, honour and pay homage to the European newcomers.

There is a wide chasm of understanding between both parties as shown in the interactions between King Montezuma and Hernan Cortes. The social hierarchy, ordered marketplace and ceremonies observed testify of the structured society of the Aztecs.

The role of the female, servants, soldiers and their function give evidence of Aztec life in Tenochtitlan, Mexico. Items of worth which absorbed the interest and wonder of the Spaniard are the royal arsenal, armoury and weaponry, the sophisticated marketplace, exotic merchandise, commerce, skilled craftsmanship, social life, the royal palace, its Edenic garden, and preponderant concern for the treasury, the gold and precious stones.

The Spanish are appalled and disgusted at human sacrifices, mutilations, rites and ceremonial disposal of corpses. In conformity with the customary tractable nature of the indigenous peoples of Mexico, we see that the King Montezuma concedes to have a church built in the area of the Spanish visitors.

At this time, as mere observers, one gains a Spanish perspective thru Christian lenses, one discerns that Hernan Cortes makes biased judgment in favour of Christianity and condemns the native's cult as "ineffectual," "evil," and "ugly," therefore at once Cortes projects himself to be superior to the Indians, vested with the right to convert and subjugate the Indians under the banner of the King and the Cross.

Cortes recites Christian dogma and attempts to establish a church and proselytize the Indians. Montezuma's hospitality, generosity, cordiality and ingenuousness can be contrasted against the suspicious, conniving, unscrupulous and underhanded manner of the Spaniards explicitly demonstrated in a secret council meeting where the final decision was to imprison King Montezuma despite of his charity.

Don't let plagiarism ruin your grade

Run a free check or have your essay done for you

Check my essay Hire Writer