Captain Cortés Conquers Mexico

by William Weber Johnson

Genres: History, Nonfiction, World History

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1960

Reviews

[Kelly Hohenstern · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another landmark book. Fascinating history of Cortez and conquering the Aztecs. Sad story too, but important to read and learn from moving forward, as all history.

[Amy Meyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think my expectations were very high going into this book since it's only the second Landmark I've read, and I've heard such glowing reviews of Landmark books in the homeschooling community. It was a very good book indeed, but I just thought it was going to be even better. It was not quite as interesting and exciting as I thought it would be. It started out promising, told through the eyes of Escobar, a young man who accompanied Cortes, but rarely references him later. The parts on Montezuma were sad. It portrays the Spaniards as completely greedy, but I liked how it showed their greed actually taking their lives in the end as they literally sank in the lake from the gold in their pockets. As a Baptist Christian, I hate the Catholicism that simply put up crosses and proclaimed that was Christianity. However, it also portrayed to some extent the horror of the human sacrifices of the pagan religion of the Aztecs, so that definitely was bad as well, and I was glad to read something that wasn't so infected with modern PC. I liked the ending paragraphs showing how both Spanish descendants and Aztecs fought for freedom from Spain in the end, hundreds of years later. Overall it was well-written, just a sad subject, and colonialism is such a loaded subject nowadays, I wanted to know how Landmark would portray Cortes. It certainly seems that the Spaniards cared only for their own wealth, not about the spread of Christendom.

[Stephanie N. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Johnson is able to truly show a different side to the Aztec and other indigenous inhabitants of Mexico, and is able to portray them as a civilized society with their own beliefs and feelings. Where this book falters is the description of the Spanish. While the natives are given a developed personality, the Spanish seemingly have no emotion and only care about getting gold. It is often forgotten that the main character in this story is Escobar. He is only mention when the story is running out of action and needs someone to move the plot long faster. Thus he is more of a tool then an actual charterer.

[Weston M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read a couple different books about Cortes and Montezuma and am fascinated by how everything happened. This book does a good job of showing the schemes of Cortes. I also like to read about the view of this topic from a different time period.

There is a part in the books I have read including this that Montezuma mentions that their ancestors came from across the ocean. BOM anyone? :)

[LaWindes · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a miracle that Cortes and the spaniards came through this adventure alive. Was the Aztec nation being punished for its terrible practice of human sacrifice? Nicely illustrated. Too bad this happened before video cameras.

[Paithan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young adult version of Bernal Diaz’s “The Conquest of New Spain.”

As far as the writing in landmark books go, it is one of the better ones; it doesn’t spell things out for you in a heavy handed way.

[Ted · Rating 4 out of 5]

Captain Cortes - A conqueror or a 16th Century war criminal?

[Gracewellworn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detailed, interesting, and well written.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Told in narrative starting in 1516 from the POV of a cabin boy who joins Cortes’ crew. Factual information is relayed via Cortes himself and other crew members. Very much like reading a novel rather than a historical account, (à la Leckie’s War in Korea book for comparison, which reads like the reporter he was) so it was quite enjoyable in that regard and hooked my attention immediately. This book did a great job introducing Mexican geography, starting in the south-easternmost peninsula. I needed to use some context clues since it’s not explicitly described until several chapters in, but the various regions of people groups are also detailed as the reader traces the trail of the Spaniards. I appreciated that the names of places and landmarks are retained in their Aztec counterparts, with Spanish equivalents given when possible or necessary. The Aztec version of the legend of the two mountains is included. It’s a good book too for presenting the tension of men conquering inhabited countries *and* claiming God Almighty as their motivation and with His continual approval. It’s not a book where you are rooting for one side, or even either side. They both commit deceitful treacheries and horrific acts to the modern readers eyes. I appreciate the summary of what happened in the aftermath of the Spanish conquest and how ultimately it led to rebellion and strides made towards an independent Mexico, particularly ignited by Father Hidalgo’s rebellion against Spanish colonization three hundred years after Cortes.

Of particular note: The illustrations in this Landmark volume, drawn by Jose Cisneros, are *beautifully* rendered works of line art and cross hatching, full of detail and depth. Completely enhanced both the story and reading experience in a great way. Greatly reminded me of Edward Ariozzone, but more tightly rendered rather than the gestural quality of Ariozzone’s work.

Ccs: Cuban natives are referred to as Cuban Indians? I have no idea why or where that has roots from. They and the peoples of New Spain are both referred to as ‘savages’. Landing at Cozumel, the Mayan natives there are referred to as Indians as well. Battle violence occurs, the extent is ‘thrusting’, ‘hacking’, ‘chopping’. A Spanish ‘Christian’ soldier asserts Spanish superiority and that it’s not stealing if it’s from the ‘heathen’ in a disparaging attitude towards the natives (to which Cortes rebukes the soldier.) A story of an Aztec enslaved woman’s background is told—her father dies and her stepfather lies and sells her into slavery to the Tabascans claiming she was his slave girl who had died in actuality. A vassal kingdom ruled over by the Aztecs report that their fairest children are taken by the Aztecs to sacrifice in the temples, and the Aztecs provide 20 people to sacrifice as punishment for entertaining the Spaniards. A diplomatic strategy on Cortes’ part includes pitting a vassal king against the ruling Aztecs by lying to them and playing favorites. Small fat dogs are found in an empty village and are killed and eaten by some Spaniards and their Totonac allies—the dogs are raised for meat like chickens. Treachery involves preparation on the part of a ‘friendly’ village to ambush the Spaniards and feast on their sacrificed flesh. Cortes retaliates by massacring most of the Cholula people, noting that even a rumor of intended treachery warranted action, “heartless though the action may be.” The book asserts Cortes was grieved to order it but had political aspirations in mind, hoping it would impress Montezuma with Spanish military strength and quick revenge. An illustration depicts the slaughter, later it is said thousands of bodies were gathered for mass burning. The Aztecs worship a variety of gods and idols of them. The act of sacrifice (plunging stone knives into victims’ chests) is detailed briefly. A bowl of human hearts is used for praying to these false gods. The Spaniards try to repair the destroyed Cholula city, demolish idols of their religion and erect a giant cross instead. Another massacre takes place in Cortes’ absence, his number two guy attacks the Aztecs during one of their most important festivals while they were unarmed and in their finest apparel, and then his soldiers robbed the bodies of their jewels. A man is struck by stones in battle and refuses treatment, desiring to die. In another battle, approx. 500 Spaniards are killed of taken for sacrifice, and about 4,000 of their allies, the Tlascalans were also killed. In retaliation, hundreds of Aztec homes are burned and the great Aztec city of Tichtitlan (sp wrong) is razed to ruins. A new Spanish city is built using materials of the Aztec one, the Aztec people are given as slaves to the conquering soldiers. The Spaniards introduced small pox onto the continent and many Aztecs died of it.