Aztecs 5 :: essays research papers

Analysis of an Aztec EncounterThe Spaniard and Aztec civilizations were two completely antithetic worlds whose fated encounter caused some surprising reactions from both parties. Neither of these nations knew scarce what to expect or how to react to each other&8217s behaviors. Differences in religion, customs and weaponry became the deciding factors of who would be the dominant aggressor in these encounters. Even though both parties were unsure of what to expect, the Spaniards had already set a goal for themselves before they set foot in Mexico. They wanted to quash the other nation and exploit them for anything of value. The climax of the Aztec Empire and the conquistadors occurred when Motecuhzoma and Cortes met spunk to face for the first time. The Spaniards as well as the Aztecs had no clue what to expect. Motecuhzoma told Cortes, &8220Our lord, you be weary. The journey has tired you, but now you have arrived on soil&8230 to sit on your throne, under its canopy. This was due to the fact that the Aztec religion told of a god, Quetzalcoatl, who would come from the heavens and take his place as ruler of the Aztec Empire. hence Motecuhzoma showered the Spaniards with many fine gifts. Unlike the Spaniards cerebrated, these fine gifts were not really a undertake of Aztec submission but rather as a sign of wealth and power. In order to give proper respect to their so-called god, the Aztecs had to show that they were a worthy and powerful nation. The Spaniards took this as a weakness. They judgment the Aztecs feared them, which boosted up their confidence level even though they were greatly outnumbered. The Spaniards had to run with the Aztecs by using La Malinche as an interpreter. She basically made the Aztecs believe that Cortes was a good man and would be cause them no harm. They withal had other indigenous people who were allied with the Spanish. The Aztecs must have viewed this as a sign that these strangers would be peaceful since they had othe rs of their kind on the Spaniard&8217s side. La Malinche translated all that Motecuhzoma had said to Cortes. On page sixty-four of The broken in Spears it says, &8220Cortes replied in his strange and savage tongue&8230 In other passages in the book it depicts the Spaniards as wild and uncivilized. This brings up another point that nevertheless as the Spaniards thought of the Aztecs as being barbaric, some Aztecs felt the equivalent way about the Spaniards.