Post for 9/29 - A New Perspective on History

I've said it before, I'll say it again - my perspective on history was not as accurate as I thought it was! It just hit me today that I had never even heard of Malintzin a month ago. We talk about unsung heroes, but Malintzin runs the risk of being a hero completely lost to history, thanks to Cortes and his arrogance. For someone that, according to Bernal Diaz, was invaluable in the Spanish conquest, she is not given nearly the limelight she deserves.

Take as another example the Spanish defeats. We like to think that they showed up in Mexico and marched to an easy victory. Unfortunately for them, it was not that simple!

And there are so many such like examples! Granted, Cortes probably deserves some credit. While his leadership skills (not to mention his morality) left much to be desired, he still headed an army that defeated the most powerful nation in the area. On the other hand, like we have discussed in class, many, many other factors played into the Spanish victory, which Cortes never acknowledged.

On another note, I have really enjoyed learning about Aztec lifestyle and culture. It is fascinating to learn about their ingenuity in crops, in medicine, and in architecture. Also, learning more about their religious beliefs and superstitions is extremely interesting. It helps explain so much of why they lived the way they did. I hope I continue to enjoy Aztec history!

Comments

  1. Joseph GreendykOctober 1, 2021 at 11:58 AM

    Hi Seth! I totally agree on the new perspective on history. This is the most in depth I've ever studied this history, and there are many details that are completely new and interesting. I think it's interesting that you pointed out the difficulty the Spanish had in the conquest. It makes sense that they would, as they were vastly outnumbered, but I also had the assumption it was quick and easy for them because of their military superiority. It was kind of shocking to me to read in The Fifth Sun about the chaos that really occurred. When Narvaez arrived to replace Cortes, and Cortes frantically left the city to capture him, leaving some men that would soon be attacked, it struck me at how bad the invasion was going at that point. It had never really occurred to me that the militarily superior Spanish would have had such troubles, as that was never mentioned in past history classes.

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  2. Jackson HicksOctober 4, 2021 at 8:54 AM

    I have to completely agree, Seth. Learning about cultures that are so different from the one we have grown up in is eye-opening and fascinating. It is truly remarkable to hear about a society who has been represented one way, and learn exactly why and how we gained that perspective. I think in today's society we struggle with accepting other perspectives on the basis alone that they are not what we have decided personally are the right views. We ought to always keep in mind as global citizens that there is always more than what we are being spoon-fed.

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  3. Médar SerrataOctober 5, 2021 at 5:51 PM

    Thank you, Seth, for your post. I couldn’t agree more with you on your assessment of Malintzin as an unsung hero. Of course, this would be from a Spanish perspective. What about the descendants of the indigenous people? Malintzin has not been forgotten in Mexico, although she is hardly seen as a heroic figure. On the contrary, many despise her precisely because of the important role she played in the Spanish conquest.

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