Download The Conquest

The Conquest
“Uic athan”
Contrasting views and confusion
Moctezuma II
Was he fooled into
believing Cortez and the
Spaniards were gods?
• It is said that when conquistadors asked
Mayans what they called the land, the
Indians replied “uic athan” The Spaniards
then said the land was called Yucatan.
• Uic athan means: what are you saying…we
do not understand you?
• Much of the interaction between The
Spanish invaders and the peoples of Mexico
were of a similar nature--based on
misunderstanding and misinterpretations.
• The major issue facing the Europeans was
trying to figure out who these people were
that were not mentioned in the Bible.
Sources of knowledge
about the conquest:
• Writings of Bernal Diaz
• Writings by Priests in the wake of conquest
• Post-conquest Codices commissioned by
Priests written in Nahuatl
• Post-conquest stories translated from
Nahualtl
• Archaeology
1519-1521
• Cortez arrives off Veracruz
• Moctezuma II warned of the arrival
– Magicians had warned of “bad omens” as early
as ten years before.
• Moctezuma II possibly believes Cortez to
be a human manifestation of Quetzacoaltl
• Spaniards gather allies during march toward
Tenochitlan
War God
• Moctezuma II accommodates and welcomes
Cortez and his men. Does not suspect that
their goal is to conquer. Houses them in a
new palace.
• Aztec army is strong, and number several
thousands.
• Many nobles in the court of Moctezuma II
believed Cortez and his men were a danger.
Recent excavations in Mexico
city reveal Aztec defenders
buried beneath temple.
Wounds consistent with
swords.
Aztec tales
• Post conquest accounts in Nahualtl describe
the court of Moctezuma II as divided on the
issue of the Spanish. Some wanted Cortez
killed outright while Moctezuma was
unsure and believed he may be divine.
Scholarly Controversy
• Critics argue that it is a common pattern
historically for European explorers to claim
native peoples thought they were Gods.
• The theme is used to underscore the
“primitiveness” of the indigenous people
and the superiority of the European
• Cortez vs Aztec conflict fits the mold.
Deconstruct...
• In the case of the Aztecs, native accounts
reveal a level of confusion among leaders
and Aztec cosmology challenged.
• Reluctance on part of Moctezuma II to deal
decisively with the Spaniards is what
allowed conquest to proceed.
• Sickness affected Aztec more than war.