PRIHIS202016-V011100

Summary

The video script narrates the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire, detailing the strategic alliances formed by Cortez with rival tribes like the Tlaxcalans and Tarascans. It underscores the pivotal role of interpreters like Donya Marina and the devastating impact of diseases, which were the true catalysts for the fall of Tenochtitland in 1521. The script also contrasts this with the Incas' demise due to smallpox and the Spanish strategy of amalgamating indigenous structures with their rule. It highlights the varied European encounters across the Americas, from militarized conquests to more negotiated settlements, particularly in less urbanized regions like North America.

Takeaways

• 🗺️ The legend of El Dorado sparked Spanish interest in exploring beyond the Caribbean Islands in search of greater wealth.
• 🚢 Cortez led an expedition of 500 men and 16 horses from Hispaniola to Mexico, aiming to find the rumored riches.
• 🤝 Cortez formed alliances with rival indigenous groups, such as the Tlaxcalans and Tarascans, against the Aztecs.
• 👸 Donya Marina, daughter of a king, became Cortez's concubine, interpreter, and informant, highlighting the role of intermediaries in conquest.
• 🏰 The fall of Tenochtitlan to Spanish forces on August 13, 1521, was a pivotal event in global history, marking a significant shift in power.
• 🌐 The 1520s were a decade of global significance, with events like the fall of Constantinople and the Spanish conquests shaping the world.
• 🛡 The conquest was not a single battle but a process involving two years of negotiations and skirmishes among various forces.
• 🔄 The Aztecs adapted their warfare, ceasing prisoner-taking for sacrifice, and even sacrificed their leader Montezuma to negotiate with the Spanish.
• 🗼 An army of 100,000, mostly indigenous allies, was needed to defeat the Aztecs, showing the importance of alliances in conquest.
• 🦠 Disease, rather than military might, was the primary factor in the fall of the Aztec Empire, causing massive death and disruption.
• 🌿 The Spanish conquest strategy involved amalgamating indigenous structures with Spanish rule, rather than complete obliteration of the existing order.

Q & A

What was the legend that inspired the Spaniards to search for El Dorado?

The legend of El Dorado inspired the Spaniards with stories of fabulous riches beyond the Caribbean Islands, prompting them to seek a fabulous source of wealth elsewhere.

Who was Cortez and what was his role in the exploration of the New World?

Cortez was a Spaniard on Hispaniola who led an expedition of about 500 men and 16 horses to explore beyond the islands, eventually reaching the coast of Mexico near Veracruz.

How did Cortez leverage local rivalries to his advantage?

Cortez forged alliances with rival powers such as the Tlaxcalans and Tarascans against the Aztecs, using their assistance as a special weapon against their common enemy.

What role did Donya Marina play in Cortez's conquest?

Donya Marina, the daughter of a king, became Cortez's concubine, interpreter, and informant, highlighting the importance of intermediaries in the process of conquests and translations.

When and how did the Aztec capital of Tenochtitland fall to the Spanish forces?

Tenochtitland fell to Spanish forces on August 13th, 1521, after two years of protracted negotiations and skirmishes involving not just Spanish and Aztec forces, but also Tlaxcalan forces.

What was the significance of the 1520s in global history as mentioned in the script?

The 1520s was a significant decade in global history with events like the fall of Tenochtitland and the Portugese diplomatic expedition to Beijing, marking the expansion of Europeans both East and West.

How did the Aztecs adapt their warfare tactics during the conflict with the Spanish?

The Aztecs adapted their warfare tactics by ceasing to take prisoners for future sacrifice and were even willing to sacrifice their own leader, Montezuma, to cut a deal with the Spanish.

What was the 'sad night' mentioned in the script and why was it significant?

The 'sad night' was a significant defeat for the Spanish forces where 67 Spaniards were captured, 10 beheaded, and 57 sacrificed. This event underscored the need for Cortez to rely on his Indian allies for the final defeat of the Aztec regime.

What was the true enemy that brought down the Aztec Empire according to the script?

The true enemy that brought down the Aztec Empire was not the Spanish forces but disease, which had a devastating effect on the population, killing 40% within two years of contact.

How did the Spanish manage to conquer the Aztec Empire with a relatively small force?

The Spanish conquered the Aztec Empire with an army of 100 thousand, of which only 600 were Spanish, by amalgamating indigenous structures with Spanish patterns of rulership and relying on Indian allies.

What were the differences in how Europeans engaged with indigenous peoples in Brazil and North America compared to Mexico?

In Brazil and North America, Europeans encountered less urbanized cultures and sought different staples for wealth, such as fur from beaver pelts in North America. The process was less militarized and more negotiated compared to the conquest in Mexico.

Outlines

00:00

🏰 The Conquest of the Aztec Empire

The paragraph discusses the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire, led by Hernán Cortés. It highlights the search for El Dorado and the frustration of the Spaniards with the limited riches in Hispaniola. Cortés' expedition to Mexico, the alliances he formed with rival indigenous groups such as the Tlaxcalans and Tarascans, and the pivotal role of Donya Marina as an interpreter and informant are detailed. The paragraph also emphasizes the importance of intermediaries in conquest and the process of translation. It concludes with the fall of Tenochtitlan to Spanish forces in 1521 and the broader implications of this event in global history, comparing it to the fall of Constantinople. The narrative also touches on the protracted negotiations and skirmishes that preceded the fall, the Aztecs' adaptation of warfare, and the significant impact of disease in weakening the Aztec Empire.

05:01

🦠 The Invisible Enemy: Disease's Role in Conquest

This paragraph focuses on the role of disease in the downfall of the Aztec Empire. It describes the brutal tactics used by the Spanish, including the execution of captured Spaniards, and the reliance on Indian allies to achieve victory. The narrative shifts to emphasize that the real enemy was not the Spanish forces or their military technology but disease, which had a far more devastating impact. The paragraph provides a comparison of the size of Tenochtitlan to European cities and describes the city's state upon Cortés' arrival, highlighting the death and decay caused by disease. It also touches on the similar fate of the Inca Empire, where smallpox and internal strife led to its collapse. The paragraph concludes by discussing the Spanish strategy of maintaining the existing political structures of the conquered empires, decapitating the ruling class but not destroying the indigenous systems.

10:01

🌏 Encounters and Explorations in the New World

The final paragraph explores the varied ways Europeans engaged with indigenous peoples across the Americas. It contrasts the Spanish conquest in Mexico with encounters in Brazil and North America, where Europeans found different sources of wealth, such as beaver pelts in North America. The paragraph discusses the less militarized and more negotiated nature of these encounters, highlighting the differences in the patterns of exploration and exploitation. It encourages reflection on the diverse strategies employed by Europeans as they expanded into the New World.

Keywords

💡El Dorado

El Dorado refers to the legendary city of gold sought by Spanish conquistadors in South America. In the video, it symbolizes the allure of vast wealth that drove the Spanish to explore and conquer new lands. It is mentioned as a catalyst for the Spanish to look beyond the Caribbean Islands for even greater riches.

💡Cortez

Hernán Cortés was a Spanish conquistador who led an expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire. In the video, he is depicted as a key figure whose ambitions and military strategies led to the conquest of Mexico, illustrating the human aspect of exploration and conquest.

💡Aztec Empire

The Aztec Empire was a Mesoamerican civilization that existed in central Mexico until the early 16th century. The video discusses its fall as a pivotal event in global history, emphasizing the empire's significance and the impact of its conquest on world history.

💡Tlaxcalans

The Tlaxcalans were a group of indigenous people who were rivals of the Aztecs. In the video, they are highlighted as allies to Cortés, showcasing how alliances with local powers were crucial to the Spanish conquest. Their role illustrates the complex interplay of rivalries and alliances in the conquest process.

💡Donya Marina

Donya Marina, also known as Malinche, was an indigenous woman who became an interpreter and concubine to Cortés. Her role in the video underscores the importance of intermediaries in conquest and translation, both literally and figuratively, in facilitating communication and understanding between cultures.

💡Conquest

Conquest in the video refers to the process of subjugating a people and taking control of their territory. It is emphasized as a complex process involving negotiation, skirmishes, and alliances rather than a single decisive battle, highlighting the multifaceted nature of such historical events.

💡Tenochtitland

Tenochtitlan was the capital of the Aztec Empire. The video describes its fall to Spanish forces in 1521, marking a significant turning point in history. The description of Tenochtitlan's surrender illustrates the culmination of the conquest process.

💡Disease

The video highlights disease, particularly smallpox, as a decisive factor in the fall of the Aztec and Inca Empires. It contrasts the traditional narrative of military conquest with the devastating impact of European-borne diseases, which had a profound and often overlooked effect on the indigenous populations.

💡Incas

The Incas were a South American civilization that was conquered by the Spanish, led by Francisco Pizarro. The video mentions the Incas to draw parallels with the Aztec Empire's fall, showing how disease and internal strife weakened these civilizations, paving the way for Spanish conquest.

💡Amalgamation

Amalgamation in the context of the video refers to the blending of indigenous structures with Spanish patterns of rulership following the conquest. It illustrates the Spanish strategy of maintaining much of the existing political structure to facilitate control, rather than completely obliterating the indigenous systems.

💡North America

The video contrasts the Spanish conquest in Mexico with encounters in North America, where Europeans sought different resources such as furs. This keyword highlights the diversity of European interactions with indigenous peoples and the varied motivations for exploration and colonization across the Americas.

Highlights

The legend of El Dorado and the allure of undiscovered riches beyond the Caribbean Islands.

The frustration of Spaniards in Hispaniola and their dreams of finding wealth elsewhere.

Cortez's expedition with 500 men and 16 horses in search of El Dorado.

Cortez's arrival in Mexico and his encounter with Aztec rivals.

The strategic alliances Cortez formed with rival powers against the Aztecs.

The role of Donya Marina, the daughter of a king, as an interpreter and informant for Cortez.

The importance of intermediaries in the conquest process, especially in relationships between men and women.

The fall of Tenochtitland to Spanish forces on August 13th, 1521.

The global historical significance of the 1520s, including the fall of Constantinople and the Chinese-Portuguese diplomatic relations.

The conquest as a process involving two years of negotiations and skirmishes.

The Aztecs' adaptation of warfare tactics in response to Spanish forces.

The critical defeat of the Spanish known as the 'Sad Night' and its impact.

The reliance of Cortez on Indian allies to wage the final defeat of the Aztec regime.

The composition of the army that brought down the Aztec power, with only 600 out of 100,000 being Spanish.

The role of disease in the downfall of the Aztec Empire, rather than military might.

Cortez's entry into Tenochtitland, a city of immense size and death.

The impact of disease on the Inca Empire and the execution of one of the Inca ruler's sons.

The political landscape of the Americas being shaken up by disease before the Spanish conquest.

The Spanish strategy of amalgamating indigenous structures with Spanish patterns of rulership.

The contrast in European interactions with Indians in Brazil and North America, focusing on non-militarized negotiations.

The multiple ways Europeans engaged with Indians during the process of conquest and colonization.

Transcripts

The legend of El Dorado.

Stories began to reach the shores of Caribbean Islands,

that there were fabulous riches to be found, beyond them.

And many Spaniards who were growing frustrated that the riches of Hispaniola.

Were not quite as plentiful as they had hoped for.

It soon began to nurse dreams that,

there was some fabulous source of wealth to be found elsewhere, and

began to speculate that they might be able to hit pay dirt.

By moving beyond the Islands.

One of the Spaniards on Hispaniola who,

nursed these fantasies was a man called Cortez.

Who would lead a an expedition of about 500 men, and 16 horses.

And by 1519 setting sail from Hispaniola.

He reached the coast of Mexico, near Veracruz.

And there he would meet, with a Aztec rivals.

Remember in an earlier point I had made.

The argument that there were,

across Mesoamerica, a set of very important rivalries, and conflicts.

Which had pit the Aztecs, against some of the neighboring polities.

Well, one of them was the Tlaxcalans, and the Tarascans.

And one of the first things that Cortez did, then,

was to begin to forge alliances.

With some of the rival powers.

Indeed, one of the things that the Tarascans and

the Tlaxcalans offer to to Cortez immediately seizing on this opportunity,

to have a special weapon that they could use against their enemies.

One of them, the Kings offers his daughter, Donya Marina,

who would eventually become a concubine of Cortez the conqueror.

She would serve as his interpreter, and informant.

And remember, the point that I had made earlier, about the importance

of intermediaries in the process of making conquests and translation.

And in this particular case of relationships between men and

women at the core of these political processes.

All of this would culminate finally in an expedition to the capital of

the Aztec empire of Tenochtitland,

which would finally surrender to Spanish forces on August 13th, 1521.

Remember, also, how important the 1520s was, as a decade in global history.

Back in China,

the Portugese have sent an a diplomatic expedition to Beijing, itself.

So, imagine what is happening in these two sides.

Of the world as Europeans are moving out East, and West.

Well, the fall of Tenochtitland was one of the great events in global history,

up there, of course, with the fall of Of of,

of the Byzantine capital of Constantinople, but,

with much more monumental consequences for the course of world history.

And of course it's given rise to multiple narratives of what in fact happened.

One of the features I want you to bear in mind as you think about what happens

at in the 1520s here in the center of Mexico,

was to recall that a conquest was not just a single battle.

Conquest is a process.

Indeed, the fall of Tenochtitland came on the heels of

two years of protracted negotiations, and

small skirmishes between, not just Spanish forces and Aztec forces.

But even more importantly, between Tlaxcalan forces and Aztec forces.

In the course of those two years,

the Aztecs did learn to adapt their mode of warfare.

They ceased taking prisoners, for future sacrifice for instance.

In fact, they were even, in fact willing, to sacrifice their own leader,

Montezuma who, was willing to cut a deal with the Spanish.

And the Spaniards themselves, faced a series of very important defeats.

Famous one occurred on an evening none as the [FOREIGN], the,

the sad night, in which Cortes himself, narrowly escaped capture.

In that episode, 67 other Spaniards were taken.

Ten of them were beheaded and their heads were lobbed

over the ramparts back into the midst of the retreating Spanish forces.

Other 57 were taken up the steps of the pyramid, their hearts ripped out,

and presented to the gods in form of human sacrifice.

This meant it was very important for Cortes to rely, on his Indian allies,

to wage the final defeat, of, of the Aztec regime.

In the end it took an army of a 100 thousand,

only 600 of which were Spanish to bring down the Aztec power.

The real enemy, and the struggle between Europeans and

Indians however, were less the horses, and the chariots, and

the guns, that have dominated the narratives of the Spanish conquest.

But rather of disease.

Here we have a romanticized account of what happened

in the battle over Tenochtitland.

Here we have an account, that an Indian chronicler

would compose the struggle between Spanish and Indians.

And note for instance, that the Spanish are clearly allied in this image.

With Indians against other Indians.

But as I said, the real enemy was invisible.

What brought down the Aztec Empire in the end, was disease.

So while Cortez believed, that he had God on his side.

It was in fact, the germs that did the dirty work, the germs, and

the rivals to the Aztec Empire.

When Cortez finally walked into Tenochtitland, he stepped into a city.

You have to realize what Tenochtitland was in 1521.

No European, had seen a city of this size, in Europe, before.

The closest to come to Tenochtitland,

with a population of about 200 thousand was Naples.

It was an awesome city he walked into.

But, it stank.

Stank of death.

When Cortes crosses into the city, already within two years of the contact,

40% of the population was dead.

Within one year of contact, the Conquistador chroniclers talk of having

to step over the Cadavers of Indians lying in the streets.

The puss, from their sores dribbling across the streets.

It was death that brought down the empire.

A similar fate would be delivered to the Incas whose ruler would succumb

to smallpox, and from that would ensue a struggle between his heirs, his two sons.

Eventually giving rise to the execution of one of

the sons by the other, and the triumph of [FOREIGN].

And in the convulsion within the heart of the Incan Dynasty Spaniards led by

their conquistador Pizarro would deliver a fatal blow at the Battle of Cajamarca.

The important point was that that disease was shaking up, the political landscape.

Of the Americas, even before the Spanish quote unquote conquest,

would deliver its blows.

Well, the conquering Spanish empires,

and the defeat of Indian armies was really in a sense,

the first phase of the conquest itself.

They were very important subsequent episodes, but wasn't, the ways in which

the Spanish defeated the incumbent powers was not to obliterate them.

But, rather because they were so few Spaniards the need was felt that

they had to keep as much of the incumbent structure in place.

So get rid of the ruling class, get rid of the ruling household, leave much

of the political pyramid that held together these great empires together.

Decapitate, the indigenous apologies, don't destroy them.

And so we begin to see a long process at the heart of the Spanish conquest,

of amalgamating indigenous structures to Spanish patterns of rulership.

Now, what I've just described to you about the Spanish Conquest.

Does not tell, the full story of the ways in which Europeans, dealt with

the Indians that they met, as they began to fan out, across the Americas.

There were important counterpoint's in Brazil, and in North America.

Where Europeans encountered, much less urbanized cultures with

which did not rely on precious metals to, as a bounty for their wealth.

And where, in a sense, Europeans looked for

other staples for wealth, rather then, then gold.

And in the case, of North America,

they would find this in the form of fur taken from beaver pelts.

This was a pattern of exploration, and exploitation that looked rather a lot more

like the pattern, of Russian exploration and eastward penetration across Siberia.

The important point, about the negotiations that we see occur in

the woodlands of North America, and in the jungles of the Amazon, was a much

less militarized process, rather a more negotiated compact between.

The newcomers, and they incumbents.

However, what's important,

and what I want you to think about as we take a pause here.

Is to think about and consider the multiple ways, in which Europeans engaged

with Indians, as they began the process of conquest and colonization.

Of the new world.