Hernán Cortés

by Richard Lee Marks

Adding to the debate over the legacy of the European conquest of the Americas, a thorough portrait of Herna+a7n Corte+a7s, the Spanish conqueror of Mexico, portrays a unique point in history, where independently evolved cultures collided. 12,500 first printing.

Genres: Biography, History

336 pages, Paperback

First published August 31, 1993

Reviews

[SJ L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cortes
It’s very post-modern enlightened to bash Cortes and other early conquistadors as a bunch of blood thirsty, gold hungry bad guys, but in terms of historical appreciation there is more to the story than that. It’s amazing to ponder what it was like when two completely different cultures and kinds of people finally met.
I’ve always been fascinated with the story of Hernan Cortes and the conquering of Mexico City (Tenochtitlan) and Aztec Civilization. This event influenced relationships in the Americas for centuries, and one can’t help but wonder how things would have been different if instead of Cortes the first Spanish captain to arrive with force in the mainland had been a diplomatic, peacefully inclined individual. He had a tremendous effect on history, and found himself in some absolutely amazing situations.
Though the tone is dated, reading this book really contextualizes who Cortes is and why he acted in the way that he did. Starting with his life in Spain, following him through his studies and move to the Americas, we first get to know Cortes as a womanizing, legalistic man who makes the most out of any opportunity he comes across and has bitter personal disputes. Information about Cortes’s life in Hispanola, and his rivalries with Velazquez are very interesting. Then, we follow Cortes to Mexico, where his ambition takes full force. Combining masterful diplomacy with boldfaced lying and military dominance (horses, steel and gunpowder folks) Cortes pulls off an incredible feat. Defeating the Aztecs, the biggest empire in the world at the time by leading a siege force of over a hundred thousand fighters (mainly Indian allies) when he set off years before with a couple hundred men. It’s hard to imagine just as foreign these two groups were to one another, tales of being bewildered by open sodomy between priests or the different sexual norms are remarkable.
The bulk of the book is devoted to the time spent conquering the Aztecs, but we also read about Cortes’s life after, his gubernatorial success, impeachment due to the royal decree, travels back to Spain. In terms of a rags to riches story, and in terms of a man whose marriages and relationships were incredibly interesting, Cortes is a fascinating historical character.
This kind of historical writing is outdated to the point where it’s almost entertaining. Not all Spaniards are hot blooded sexual champions (not that I have much evidence to suggest otherwise), the Aztec religion wasn’t just a blood thirsty disgrace of human life, I doubt St. James actually intervened in battle (but I suppose I can’t prove otherwise). I’ll acknowledge all of that and then follow to say that this book is filled with information and details regarding the intricacies of different battles or breakdowns in communication that caused several important moments in history, and it manages to tell these facts in a pretty damn good story. If you can get past the antiquated tone of the book, there is a lot to be learned. It’s packed with more information about Cortes than I had ever encountered, and for that I’m thankful.

Quotes
Tenochtitlan…it was the capital of this side of the world. 122

[Olethros · Rating 3 out of 5]

-De la tozudez como herramienta.-

Género. Biografía.

Lo que nos cuenta. Vida y obras del famoso conquistador español, narradas con un estilo cercano al periodismo, desde la extremeña Medellín de finales del siglo XV hasta la andaluza Castilleja de la Cuesta de mediados del XVI, pero fundamentalmente centrada en su intervención en la conquista de parte del Nuevo Mundo.

¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:

http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...

[Glenn Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well researched, well written. What we were taught in junior high is again shown to be faulty by the simplistic teachings. Cortes and the Spaniards were not viewed as either God like or monsters on 4 legs as was taught in school. There was a legend, yes, but the Aztecs saw through that. The Aztecs had subjugated many of the tribal nations and levied both high taxes and a large segment of the population to be sacrificed at the alter. The Aztecs differed from the Mayans in this regard. The Aztecs sacrificed thousands brutally. The Mayans viewed the sacrifice as an honor. While this is too foreign for us today, there was a difference then and that the Aztecs demanded thousands more sons monthly to sacrifice did not lead to enduring alliances, which allowed Cortes to win allegiances.

Cortes created alliances with the other tribes and after diplomacy broke down, conquered the Aztecs. The alliances with numerous tribes stayed in force until the Mexican Revolution in the early 1800's.

Interesting book on the politics of Spain, Cuba, and other areas. Interesting insights into the local leaders, both Spaniards and Indians.

[Joe Keefhaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book that, despite all the Spanish and Aztec names, provides a very readable account of the Spanish conquest of Mexico. I had no real understanding of what took place, and this book gave a better appreciation of both the often-noble Spanish conquistadors and the Aztec society, which was both highly developed and extremely savage. The book also gives some insights into modern-day Mexico, which is a melding of two cultures that may be unlike any other.

[Joseph Raborg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book offers an incredible view of the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire. The historian displays great sympathy towards all the characters and peoples involved. He has intimate knowledge of both Mexico and Spain. Very often, he is forced to weigh sources against each other and shows good judgment. It’s hard to imagine a better history of these events, which range from tragic and horrific to humorous to uplifting and glorious.

[Rodrigo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like a lot this book, the author describes beatifully the two cultures and how they mixed with each other.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

A remarkable book about one of history's greatest and most remarkable men. Outnumbered 10,000 to 1, facing astronomical odds, Cortes and his men overthrew perhaps the most evil empire in the history of the world. Compelling to read and filled with many little-known facts. For instance, before every battle, the Spaniards offered peace to the Aztecs, but the Aztecs refused and choose to fight. The Spaniards saw their mission as one of sacred religious evangelization and perhaps that is what spurred them on, despite enduring hardship after hardship. You won't regret reading this. It's truly a great book.

[Socraticgadfly · Rating 2 out of 5]

A gentleman's three stars. A non-gentleman's two.

First, I've read a pretty good revisionist history of the conquest itself, more specifically, focused on the meeting between Cortes and Montezuma. So, I was primarily looking for the biography of Cortes leading up to Mexican landfall.

And, shortly after that, and not too long after Cortes' party is "gifted" Malinche, or maybe eve before that, the author says American Indians, like Asians, are all "smooth-muscled."

Ahh! Although not about intelligence, a little casual racialism! I shut the book at that point.

[Erdbeereimer · Rating 1 out of 5]

I cant unsee the more than desent sympathy for this colonizer. It really could‘ve been more respectful. Makes me sick.

[Andrea Gilch · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite part is when the author asks why we don't think of Cortés as a hero. Hahaha.