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H o w D i d C o n f l i c t i n g Wo r l d v i e w s L e a d t o t h e S p a n i s h C o n q u e s t o f t h e A z t e c C i v i l i z a t i o n ? What Was the Aztec Understanding of the Spanish Before Their Arrival? Historians today believe that about the same time he became king in 1502, Moctezuma must have heard reports of foreigners landing in the West Indies. The Spanish had established ports on some of the islands in the Caribbean and had explored the eastern Meso-American coastline, especially in the Mayan lands on the Yucatan Peninsula. For 20 years, the Spanish had heard rumours from the inhabitants of the islands about a wealthy civilization that lived on the mainland. Historians also believe that the islanders passed information about the Spanish to the Aztec. The rumours described their ships as floating towers. They had light skin, long beards, and hair that came only to their ears. These descriptions reminded the Aztec of stories of the god Quetzalcoatl. The Aztec worldview included a belief in the powers of the gods and supernatural signs. They often consulted priests before taking any action. The beginning of anything important was determined by priests indicating lucky or unlucky days. Both Aztec and Spanish records show that during Moctezuma’s reign, the Aztec experienced many frightening omens. The omens were warning of a disaster. These omens, and a belief that the god Quetzalcoatl was returning one day to reclaim his throne, confused Moctezuma and his advisors about how they should deal with the Spanish when they landed on the shores of the empire. Island Capital of the Aztecs, Tenochtitlan, Luis Covarrubias, Museo Nacional de Antropologia, Mexico City 305