Aztecs 5 :: essays research papers

Analysis of an Aztec EncounterThe Spaniard and Aztec civilizations were two completely different worlds whose damned encounter caused some surprising reactions from both parties. Neither of these nations knew exactly what to hold or how to react to each an different(prenominal)&8217s behaviors. Differences in religion, springer and weaponry became the deciding factors of who would be the dominant aggressor in these encounters. redden though both parties were unsure of what to expect, the Spaniards had already set a finale for themselves before they set foot in Mexico. They wanted to conquer 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 face to face for the original time. The Spaniards as well as the Aztecs had no clue what to expect. Motecuhzoma told Cortes, &8220Our lord, you are weary. The jaunt has tired you, but now you have arrived on earth&8230 to puzzle on your th rone, under its canopy. This was due to the fact that the Aztec religion told of a god, Quetzalcoatl, who would rise from the heavens and take his place as ruler of the Aztec Empire. Thus Motecuhzoma plantered the Spaniards with umpteen fine gifts. Unlike the Spaniards believed, these fine gifts were not really a score of Aztec submission but rather as a sign of wealthiness 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 thought the Aztecs feared them, which boosted up their confidence level even though they were greatly outnumbered. The Spaniards had to communicate 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 also had other indigenous people who were allied with the Spanish. The Aztecs must have viewed this as a sign that these stranger s would be peaceful since they had others 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 Spears it says, &8220Cortes replied in his strange and savage tongue&8230 In other passages in the apply it depicts the Spaniards as wild and uncivilized. This brings up another point that just as the Spaniards thought of the Aztecs as being barbaric, some Aztecs felt the same delegacy about the Spaniards.