Free Essay About Cortes

Hernan Cortes’ pre-conquest assessment of the Aztecs is one of the famous episodes in the history of the Spanish conquests. In the second letter to Charles V, Cortes gives an account of the pre-conquest assessment of the Aztecs. To start with the Aztecs had an unpleasant tribute system, which was not popular among the Mexicans. The harsh tribute system allowed Cortes to play the role of a liberator. Moreover, the Spanish were immune to several diseases they brought into Mexico, but the Aztecs were not. The spread of dangerous diseases, such as small pox reduced the population of the Aztecs and furthered the success of Cortes unintentionally. Furthermore, Marina, a tribal girl given as a gift to Hernan Cortes proved invaluable in translating the local dialects of the people. Another important assessment of Cortes’ success was Montezuma's belief that Cortes was Quetzakoatl who came back to take the Aztec empire.
The Spanish succeeded with the help of their weaponry, which included armour and firepower. The most important of all is the Indian allies of Cortes, such as the Tlaxcalans who were a major part of his army. All these reasons worked together to allow Cortes, originally with 508 men to conquer the Aztec Empire of millions of people. Impressed by the market system of the Tenochtilan, Cortes describes the place as one of the convenient habitations. Cortes mistakenly mentioned Tenochtilan as “Temixtitan.” The Aztecss impressed Cortes with their rules of proper measure, the way in which judges and officials ensure the fair trading of goods and the special treatment given to Cortes every day. Cortes does not make any unfair assessments about the Aztecs. Hernan Cortes gives a sincere judgment about the Aztecs, which became the foundation to conquer the Aztecs.