Conquest of Mexico

Question 1

The fall of tenochtitlan: what happened?

Answer 1

1) the march from the coast, Tlaxcallan alliance, massacre at cholula
2) tenochtitlan occupied, moctezuma captured, massacre at festival
3) aztecs expel spanish in june/july 1520
4) Tenochtitlan besieged, destroyed

Question 2

what characterizes Cortés’ letters?

Answer 2

he needs to demonstrate his worthiness to the kind, to justify his expedition, to demonstrate the wealth in gold and silver, to legitimate the use of violence. a “just war” if the aztecs appear to be vassals in revolt.

Question 3

What is the Florentine codex?

Answer 3

a multi-volume book compiled under the direction of a spanish Franciscan, Bernardino de Sahagun, starting in 1547. Spanish-trained nahua scholars interview elders and record their testimony (affected by years of spanish rule and christianity, not “pure indigenous testimony”)

Question 4

how is Moctezuma portrayed in the florentine codex

Answer 4

as a weak, naive and child-like person, reflects local ethnic biases + spanish influence.