APPARTS+Method+Primary+Source+Responses-TJ

8/26/09 __Hernan Cortes Conquers Mexico__ Author: Hernan Cortes Time and Place: Oct. 30th 1520 at Tenochtitlan Prior knowledge: Cortes came to mexico as a conquistador in 1519 and quickly conquered the advanced Aztec tribe. Cortes was initially mistaken for a god and the Aztec leader Moctezuma, offered Cortes half of the gold in their city. The Aztecs had been far advanced and had their own polyhteistic religion that involved human sacrifice. Many Aztecs were either forcibly converted to Catholicism or else killed. Audience: The King of Spain Reason: Cortes is writing to the king to inform of all the success he has had in conquering the Aztecs. Most likely, he also wants more money and he knows that if he is successful then he will get it. The Main Point: Cortes informs the king that the Aztecs have taken him in as a god and they have given him access to all their gold. Also he has been doing his best efforts to convert the Aztec "savages" to Catholicism. he forced them to destroy alll their idols and he forbade human sacrifice. Signifigance: Cortes is destroying the Aztec culture and stealing their gold becuase of his greed. he has written a lettter to brown nose the king and get more money. He begins to destroy them and their culture and yet he calls them savages.

__Aztec Chroniclers describe the Spanish Conquest of Mexico__ Author: Friar Bernadino de Sahagun Time and Place: 1529 in the Aztec nation Prior Knowledge: Sahagun arrived in mexico in 1529 and mastered the native language. He quickly begins to gather as much Aztec history as he can. he then writes an account of Cortes's interaction with Moctezuma and the other Aztec nobles. Audience: Reason: Friar Sahagun is a chronicler and therefore he wishes to collect as much history as he can. This is why he takes up the native language and interviews the Aztecs. The Main Point: Sahugan describes one of the Aztecs traditional festivals. He also describes the meeting and mistreatment of Moctezuma. During the festival, the Spaniards begin to kill every last one of the celebrants in gruesome ways. The Spaniards then search houses and villages to kill Aztecs. Signifigance: The way that the Spaniards are portrayed as mindless killers shows the greed and savagery of the conquistadors. The Spanish soldiers simply began to kill indiscriminately. They killed for no reason, simply because of the Aztec festival. One has to wonder if this was a planned attack.

Compare/Contrast: The two sources are written about the same topic but they contain opposite viewpoints. Both sources describe the interaction between Cortes and the Aztec people that he conquered. However, when Cortes describes it he claims that it was an almost peaceful takeover. He claims that the people accepted him as a messenger of god and they were very happy to convert to Catholicism. The more accurate and honest account is written by Friar Sahagun, a Spanish chronicler. He describes the way that Cortes placed Moctezuma under armed and then forced him to supply his troops. Sahagun then describes a horrific scene when the Spaniard soldiers attack and mercilessly slaughter the Aztecs during one of their traditional festivals.

__Summer Source Book Assignments__