FREE ESSAY ON THE CONQUEST OF NEW SPAIN

THE CONQUEST OF NEW SPAIN

Cortes came not to the New World to conquer by force, but by manipulation. Bernal Diaz del
Castillo, in the "Conquest of New Spain," describes how Cortes and his soldiers
manipulated the Aztec people and their king Montezuma from the time they traveled from
Iztapalaopa to the time when Montezuma took Cortes 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
Cortes' upcoming conquest. However, through these recordings, we are able to see and
understand Cortes' 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, Cortes and his men spend their time at Montezuma's
palaces. Seeing the extravagant wealth of the Aztec king, Cortes 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). Cortes 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 Cortes: "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. Cortes observed all of this and knew
that he was in favor in the eyes of Montezuma because his lodgings were in a sacred
palace. Cortes 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.
Cortes 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). Cortes is not only gaining control of Montezuma, but his
wealth as well.
In order to gain control of the whole of New Spain, Cortes must manipulate the hierarchal
traditions of the Aztec people as well. As in wealth, Castillo makes no lapse of detail
here as well. He documents the way Montezuma his treated and revered by those who are
under him. "Not one of these chieftains dared even to think of looking him in the face,
but kept their eyes lowered with great reverence…" (World History: Castillo, 247).
Montezuma was seen as being semi-divine. This was very important for Cortes, because if
he could control Montezuma then it would make it that much easier to control the Indians
and eventually take complete control himself. Montezuma's reverence is taken to a great
extent. Carried on a platform and never sets foot upon the bare ground. The meal
practices are the best demonstration of his reverence. No one is allowed to look at him
and it is considered to a great privilege by the elder chieftains to have Montezuma give
them some of his food. However, they must stand to eat whatever they are given. None of
the common servants eat before Montezuma does. Montezuma had whatever he wished at his
disposal, from sexual intercourse with the daughters of the chieftains to dancers and
jesters. Whatever he wished would be done without delay. If Cortes controlled the will of
the king, then he could easily control the will of the people and the conquest of New
Spain would be a smooth transition of power.
Lastly, Cortes must examine the economic potential that Spain would be able to profit
from. Castillo not only effectively records all that the market place has to offer, but
the way in which Cortes was able to manipulate Montezuma so that he could leave the
palace. Cortes says, "…that it would be well to go to the great Plaza and see the
great Temple of Huichilobos, and that he wished to consult the Great Montezuma and have
his approval" (World History: Castillo, 251). Cortes asks the approval of Montezuma to go
see a sacred temple, which just happens to be located in market plaza. Cortes is
manipulating Montezuma very well to discover as much information as he can. Castillo
describes that every kind of merchandise that can be found in New Spain can be found
here. It is shown to be very ordered and efficient just as it is back in Spain. It is
interesting to note that Castillo documents the buying and selling of slaves. He likens
it to the slave trade in Portugal. He also makes note of keys items such as paper
("Amal"), merchandise inspectors, textiles, building materials, energy (firewood), and
food (meat, fruit, vegetables and food that is already prepared). Castillo also makes
note of canoes for sale filled with human remains used to make a preservative. Throughout
the document, Castillo makes it a point in each area that he covers to demonstrate in a
particular way in which the Indians are barbaric so that the reader may infer that they
are in need of Spanish civility, morality, and government, and Christianity. Castillo
also describes the ability of the Aztecs in such things as engineering and architecture
in describing the courts located at the great Cue and before at Montezuma's palace where
he describing how "everything is made in masonry and well cemented." There is great
economic potential to be found here.
We are left with Castillo symbolically describing the events at the great Cue. Montezuma
sent priests to help Cortes ascend the 114 stairs to the top but Cortes would not allow
them to even come near him. At the top Montezuma tells Cortes that he and his men must be
very tired from ascending the great Cue. Cortes promptly and firmly replies: "…that
he and his companions were never tired by anything" (World History: Castillo, 252). This
symbolizes and affirms Cortes intentions that we were only able to infer before. Castillo
says that they "…stood so high that from it [the temple] one could see over
everything very well, and we saw the three causeways which led into Mexico" (World
History: Castillo, 252). Cortes is observing the future and destiny that awaits him and
the great city of Mexico.