The Conquest of New Spain
Cortés came not to the New World to conquer by force, but by manipulation. Bernal Díaz del Castillo, in the “Conquest of New Spain,” describes how Cortés and his soldiers manipulated the Aztec people and their king Montezuma from the time they traveled from Iztapalaopa to the time when Montezuma took Cortés to the top of the great Cue and showed him the whole of Mexico and its countryside, and the three causeways which led into Mexico. Castillo’s purpose for recording the mission was to keep an account of the wealth of Montezuma and Mexico, the traditions, and the economic potential that could benefit Cortés’ upcoming conquest. However, through these recordings, we are able to see and understand Cortés’ strategy in making Mexico “New Spain.” He came as a wolf in a sheep’s clothing and manipulated Montezuma through his apparent innocence. In the first part of the document, Cortés and his men spend their time at Montezuma’s palaces. Seeing the extravagant wealth of the Aztec king, Cortés begins his seduction (all the while knowing that Montezuma believes that he may be the fulfillment of a prophecy). He embraced Montezuma with the greatest reverence and “…told him that now his heart rejoiced at having
seen such a great Prince, and that he took it as a great honour that he had come in person to meet him and had frequently shown him such favor” (World History: Castillo, 247). Cortés and his men are brought into the house of Montezuma and all of his riches are now at their disposal to observe and share in. Montezuma tells Cortés: “Malinche you and your brethren are in your own house…” (World History: Castillo, 247). The wealth of Montezuma is magnificent. Each soldier is given two gold necklaces. He had hundreds, and probably thousands, of servants. He did not where the same article of clothing for at least four days and bathed every day. The cooks prepared over 1,300 plates of food for Montezuma and the guard. There was a storerooms filled with an amount of gold (bars and artistic/sacred objects) and arms that even the king of Spain would have been jealous of. Cortés observed all of this and knew that he was in favor in the eyes of Montezuma because his lodgings were in a sacred palace. Cortés played the part of the innocent and humble admirer and did nothing but compliment Montezuma in order to gain more information on the wealth of the Aztec king. Cortés makes sure that he fulfills all of Montezuma’s expectations and as a result, Montezuma says: “…and for this reason we take it for certain that you are those whom our ancestors predicted would come from the direction of the sunrise. As for your great King, I feel that I am indebted to him, and I will give him of what I possess” (World History: Castillo, 248). Cortés is not only gaining control of Montezuma, but his wealth as well. In order to gain control of the whole of New Spain, Cortés must manipulate the hierarchal traditions of the Aztec people as well. As in wealth,
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Approximate Word count = 1185
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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