Access the answers to hundreds of Aztec questions that are explained in a way that's easy for you to understand. "The Aztecs were not always popular rulers among their subjected cities. With the help of the people of Tlaxcala, Cortés' army regrouped and re-entered Tenochtitlán. THE GODS WANT BLOOD. As Cortes himself notes, they outnumbered his troops by over 500:1 and could have squashed them with little effort at any point. There was an Aztec prophecy that stated that the god, Quetzalcoatl would arrive at the year 1519, the exact year that Hernan Cortes arrived at Tenochtitlan. Ignoring his orders, Cortés set sail with 11 ships and more than 500 men. The Aztec spoke a language called Nahuatl (pronounced NAH waht l). Aztec was one of the first cultures where all children went to school. "It would seem his desire to maintain his reputation and standing among the Spanish community was stronger than his need to be a husband and father to Malinche and Martin.". We can be sure Moctezuma never said what Cortés claimed, since Cortés’s version of the speech contains allusions to the bible and to Spanish legal traditions - sources inaccessible at the time to the Aztecs. My take is that the utter strangeness and technological superiority of the gunpowder-age Conquistadors worked in their favor at first, but only until they started demanding gold and talking about Catholicism. Among them were the people of Tlaxcala, who helped him regroup and take Tenochtitlán. Legend had it that Quetzalcoatl was white-skinned, bearded and he was opposed to human sacrifice. The Aztecs didn't attack Cortes and his men at first because they did think that he was a god. ...Hernan Cortes, a fierce Spanish conquistador, landed at San Juan de Ulua, in April 1519.With him, Cortes had 508 soldiers, one hundred sailors, artillery cannons, eleven ships and sixteen horses.Cortes and his small army, marched through Mexico, forming alliances with Aztec rivals, until reaching the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan. Liked your post. As you read, focus on the writer’s vivid descriptions of the gods. Some scholars state that, disgusted with him, the Aztecs stoned him to death. She gave a different perspective that contradicted this well-known account that made me curious to look for other accounts that might reveal more truth. The story of the Aztec treating Cortes as a god on account of his beard and blue eyes makes Europeans in general and Cortes in particular look pretty good. worshipped our own gods and thought they were good. The Aztecs -- or the Mexica as they are more properly known -- ruled an area that stretched from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean, populated by millions. "Like many explorers we know about today, Hernán (also known as Hernando) Cortés's role in the Age of Exploration was influential but controversial," said Erika Cosme, Administrative Coordinator of Education and Digital Services at The Mariner’s Museum and Park in Newport News, Virginia. They had been sent by Velasquez to unseat Cortés. If Montezuma thought of Hernan Cortes as Quetzalcoatl then he would have treated him with an exceptional amount of respect and fear. When Cortés heard of this, he took a garrison of Spanish and Tlaxcalan soldiers and marched on the Spanish. Cortés explored the northern part of Mexico and discovered Baja California for Spain in the latter 1530s. After a few months in Yucatan, Cortés headed west. Several recent historians, however, have questioned whether it is true and have re-examined the evidence which survives from the time. Eventually, Cortés' Spanish wife came to Mexico. He is associated with the planet Venus, the wind and the rain, knowledge and learning. Thank you for signing up to Live Science. Hernán Cortés was a Spanish conquistador, or conqueror, best remembered for conquering the Aztec empire in 1521 and claiming Mexico for Spain. Here are some of the most important gods to the Aztecs. He became fascinated with tales of Christopher Columbus' New World explorations. He was the only son of noble, though not wealthy, parents. He disciplined his men and trained them to act as a cohesive unit of soldiers. New questions in History. "It is also said that she informed Cortés of an Aztec plot to destroy his army," Cosme said. If the gods, who created humankind, did not receive regular presents of human blood, life as these people knew it … (Gary Francisco Keller/ CC BY 3.0 ) Reasons for Believing . ", Cortés and La Malinche had a child together named Martin, who is sometimes called "El Mestizo." Here are some facts about Aztec religion. Physically, Quetzalcoatl was described in two forms; one a flying feathered serpent and the other a white -skinned man with a beard. If Cortes wanted the Aztecs to convert to Catholicism,the first step was to show that their gods were false gods,by destroying their temples.Additionally,such destruction removed an obvious centre of focus for the Aztec religion. Cortés and his men fled the city. emperor, Moctezuma II, believed Cortés to be a god. Please refresh the page and try again. The most important god to the Aztecs was Huitzilopochtli. Columbus had landed at San Salvador and explored the West Indies in 1492, when Cortés was a young boy. There's little doubt that the ritual Aztec sacrifice contributed to the fall of the Aztec Empire, and in more ways than one. "Xicotenga, a ruler in the city Tlaxcala, saw an ally in Cortés, and an opportunity to destroy the Aztec empire. Montezuma thought Cortes was an aztec God name Kulkulkan. We can be sure Moctezuma never said what Cortés claimed, since Cortés’s version of the speech contains allusions to the bible and to Spanish legal traditions - sources inaccessible at the time to the Aztecs. All rights reserved. He also burned his ships to make retreat impossible. | Developed by Life in a Box Media, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Bringing Food, Plants, and Animals into Mexico, The Aztecs allowed Cortes to enter their capital because they thought he was a god? Aztec. He quickly overpowered them, and the natives surrendered. He was one of the first children of mixed indigenous and Spanish heritage. Kulkulkan is described to have a white beard and lighter skin, which is why Montezuma thought Cortes was Kulkulkan. "She became bilingual, speaking Aztec and Mayan languages, which made her very useful to Cortés," said Cosme. An unnerving series of coincidences led Montezuma to believe that perhaps Cortés was the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl, who had promised to return one day to reclaim his kingdom. Coincidence or hoax ? Nutmeg, cloves and pomander from the Indonesian "Spice Islands" and pepper and cinnamon from India were in high demand, said Cosme. In 1519, Hernan Cortes and his greedy band of some 600 conquistadors began their audacious assault on the Mexica (Aztec) Empire.By 1521 the Mexica capital city of Tenochtitlan was in ashes, Emperor Montezuma was dead and the Spanish were firmly in control of what they took to calling "New Spain." His dedication to Emperor Charles V, from the original Spanish edition published in 1552, begins with these words, “The greatest event which has happened since the creation of the world . Both scenarios would unfortunately become a common theme among many explorers' interactions with natives. The story of the Aztec treating Cortes as a god on account of his beard and blue eyes makes Europeans in general and Cortes in particular look pretty good. What points of view do you think the two artist are expressing about these meetings? Some arguments in favor of Montezuma’s belief that Cortez was the god Quetzalcoatl begin with the god’s promise to return after he died in a pyre or sailed off in a boat traveling east. Cortés was born in 1485 in Medellín, Spain. There was a problem. So, the conjecture written 50 years later was based upon that quote and some remarks by Cortez to the Spanish Crown as to the naiveté of the Aztecs. Columbus had landed at San Salvador and explored the West Indies in 1492, when Cortés was a young boy. An unnerving series of coincidences led Montezuma to believe that perhaps Cortés was the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl, who had promised to return one day to reclaim his kingdom. In 1540, he retired to Spain and spent much of his last years seeking recognition and rewards for his achievements. Get help with your Aztec homework. "While in Cozumel, he was astounded to learn of the gruesome rituals, including human sacrifice, of the natives to their many gods … He and his men removed and destroyed the pagan idols, and replaced them with crosses and figures of the Virgin Mary.". But after Cortes captured the priest or leader, he masacured many Aztecs and conquered their land. In 1524, Gov. Aztec religious mythology was about the creation and destruction of the world. Think how Cortés, a Christian, reacted. In 1518, Cortés was to command his own expedition to Mexico, but Velázquez canceled it. He stayed for two years, and when he returned to Mexico he found himself removed from power. Robinson. The journey has tired you, but now you have arrived on earth… to sit on your throne, under its canopy.” This was due to the fact that the Aztec religion told of a god, Quetzalcoatl, who would come from the heavens and take his place as ruler of the Aztec Empire. In 1518, Cortés was to command his own expedition to Mexico, but Velázquez canceled it. This is largely due to the story that the Aztec king welcomed Hernán Cortés, the Spanish conquistador, as the reincarnation of the god. Despite his success, Cortés was hungry for more power and greater thrills. He also helped colonize Cuba and became a governor of New Spain. ), Whale that stranded off Florida is completely new species (and already endangered), Stressful animation shows blue whale dodging hundreds of ships while trying to feed, Devious sperm 'poison' their rivals, forcing them to swim in circles until they die, Mystery of gamma radiation solved: Hidden cannibal star is just having dinner, China's Tianwen-1 Mars mission snaps its 1st photo of Red Planet, Stash of more than 600 Roman-era silver coins discovered in Turkey. Father Sahagun quoted a speech addressing Cortez at their meeting: “You have graciously come on earth, you have graciously approached your water, your high place of Mexico, you have come down to your mat, your throne, which I have briefly kept for you, I who used to keep it for you. Legend would have us believe that Hernando Cortes was totally ruthless and did nothing but conquer, rape and plunder (rather than trade), but eye witness accounts of the Aztec conquest are few. (Díaz del Castillo 317) Moctezuma’s words to Cortes contain the seed for the destruction of the Aztec … The question remains: was Montezuma II weak and fearful of Cortez, knowing that he may have returned to punish them or was he the strong leader of the Aztec Empire, extending a welcome to these strange men? The accounts of the initial meeting between Hernan Cortez and Montezuma II, in 1519 CE, are based upon the writings of the Spanish; most of the written history on their first meeting by the Aztecs, if any, was more than likely destroyed during the conquest. Engraving by W. Holl, 1837. I do not doubt the goodness of the god whom you worship, so do not trouble to speak to us about them at present. The loss of people in a loss that can't be calculated. Thinking that Cortés could be … Once the city had fallen, Cortés began building Mexico City on the ruins. The most desirable type of school was the Calmecac where a high priest taught astronomy, the calendar, writing, math, and religion. The Aztec god Quetzalcoatl, whom they credited with the creation of humans among other notable feats, was set to return to Earth. Cortez fit into two of the four descriptions; he sailed from the east and was white-skinned with a beard. In 1504, at age 19, Cortés set sail for the New World. "His view on the indigenous people was similar to the majority of Europeans of that day — they were inferior culturally, technologically, and religiously," said Cosme. Some 21st- century historians, however, questioned not only whether the Aztecs thought Cortés was a god but whether the legend of Quetzalcóatl was really a part of the Aztecs’ belief system. Tenochtitlan (the most important Aztec city) was introduced to gods from all over the Aztec world. The Aztecs worshipped many gods and goddesses, and the number increased as more and more cities and tribes were forced to pay tribute to the Aztecs. "Although he was kindly received by the Aztec emperor Montezuma, Cortés' intentions were less benevolent." Cortés was eager to be part of the dynamic movement. 3. "He enslaved much of the native population, and many of the indigenous people were wiped out from European diseases such as smallpox. When Cortés learned of this, he was able to use this to his advantage," said Cosme. Cortés had heard of the Aztecs and knew that they, and their leader Montezuma II, were a primary force in Mexico. The Aztec god Quetzalcoatl, whom they credited with the creation of humans among other notable feats, was set to return to Earth. He taught the Mesoamericans how to farm corn. Get help with your Aztec homework. La Malinche helped Cortés manipulate Montezuma and rule Tenochtitlán through him. The Aztec had allies too, however, and Cortés was especially belligerent toward them. He was the only son of noble, though not wealthy, parents. Huitzilopochtli, Father of the Aztecs. "Cortés' victory secured new and profitable land and opportunities for the Spanish monarch. Religion was incredibly important to the the Aztecs. He decided to seek fortune and adventure in Hispaniola (modern-day Dominican Republic and Haiti). The Aztecs were in the midst of a full rebellion. Kulkulkan is believed to be a God in the aztec civilization. In 1511, he joined Diego Velasquez's expedition to conquer Cuba. Mexico had, been discovered by the Spanish just a year prior, and they were eager to settle it. After a three-month siege, Spanish forces under Hernán Cortés capture Tenochtitlán, the capital of the Aztec empire. After her arrival, historians are unsure if Cortés continued to acknowledge La Malinche or Martin, said Cosme. In 1519, Cortés' ships reached the Mexican coast at Yucatan. First, killing thousands of people, whether you or your neighbours, simply can't be good for a society. When Montezuma thought Cortes was a God, he gave him many luxurious items such as, gold, and cacao bean drink. Although Aztec mythology is not as extensive as its Greek or Roman counterparts - mainly because lots of Aztec history was lost after the Spanish Conquest and because the Aztec Empire survived less than 100 years (1430-1521) – it is a mythology full of splendid Gods and human sacrifices performed in honor of these Gods. Even though the form of the Cortes-as-Quetzalcoatl myth so many of us were taught as children didn’t come about until the 1560s, some forty years following the fall of the Aztec empire, both European and Nahua populations had reason to buy into it. He was also believed to have created civilization. It is thought that Cortés’ arrival coincided with an Aztec prophecy about a white-skinned god arriving from the east, which would explain why Montezuma welcomed Cortés and gave him lavish gifts. "For individual explorers, gaining public fame could potentially make them rich," said Cosme. He was believed to have invented writing, books, astronomy and calendars. Columbus had set sail hoping to … ", Cortés was, nevertheless, important in his reshaping of the world. People with “pro-Mexican/anti-colonialist history” perspectives tend to utterly dismiss the impact the appearance of the Conquistadors had on the initial fearful reverence the Azrecs showed them. The rationale for Aztec human sacrifice was, first and foremost, a matter of survival. Yes it does come from laws, but more importantly it comes from morality, and our morality is linked to our world view, which includes religion. The Aztecs no longer trusted Montezuma, they were short on food, and the smallpox epidemic was under way. 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