Aztec People And Their Society example essay topic

The Broken Spears is an eye-opening book about the Spanish Conquest of the indigenous people of Mexico, the Aztecs. This book is unique in that it gives a perspective of the Aztecs. Most of the time history is written from the viewpoint of the winners, and the Aztecs were by no means the winners of this encounter. What made this book so appealing was that great detail and passion in which the events were portrayed. It feels as if the reader was there watching or even partaking in the events during that time. If a piece of literature can make a person feel like they want to be an activist for the tragedy that is taking place in the story, it has succeeded in communicating its message to the reader.

This piece of historical literature is very important, because of the lack of knowledge that people have about the true history of the world. The Spanish were very successful in their conquest of the Aztec people for two distinct reasons. The first was their technology. As a civilization grows and agriculture is developed, people are then able to specialize in certain tasks. Some people become farmers, some become blacksmiths, and some become scribes.

Once the people begin o specialize in different areas, then they are able to barter with on another and there is more time for people to explore with technology. Now it is not clear from the book if the Aztec civilization was at that point in their existence to explore with technology, but what is very clear is that the Spanish were, and were willing to use it to expand their culture. Everything about the Spaniards and the tools available to them where advanced light-years ahead of the Aztecs, iron swords, shields, and armor that they had. The Aztecs at best were able to defend themselves with wooden spears and arrows. Even the ability to move across the sea with the ships that allowed them access to the Aztecs in the first place was a technological edge that allowed this transgression to take place. Not only were these things advantageous in that the Aztecs were not able to compete with them, but it gave the Spanish a tremendous psychological edge over the Aztec people.

Imagine never seeing a horse, or hearing a cannon, and seeing the destruction it is capable of, the Spanish won with a mental victory far before a physical one. The second reason that the Spanish were so successful was their ability to use the resources around them to their advantage. The two things that matter the most in this conflict was the way they used warring tribes with the Aztecs to help them, and the way in which they used the Aztec folk lore of the their Gods returning to walk uninhibited to the city. It would be very hard to defend yourself from an enemy that you considered to be your God. In A way I think this book shows that the ideas that the Aztecs had in their religion and their faith in the supernatural became a weakness, I don't know if this work is a critique on their society on a whole but probably that aspect of it. The concept of warfare that both cultures held was similar in that they were both fierce warriors, but the Spaniards held the edge in that all of them were trained combatants, where as the Aztecs were calling all men to arms, farmers, and young boys.

The real difference in the warfare was that the Aztecs were accustomed to being called to a fight, not jumped during religious ceremonies and celebrations. Religion played a very important role in the conquest of the Aztecs. The main driving force behind the Spanish invasion was that of converting souls for the cause of Christ, or the religious sect of Christianity. When the Spaniards arrived in Mexico they did not see a civilization of equal value, but one of savages and heathens in need of saving.

On the opposite side of the equation the Aztecs greatest weakness seemed to be that of their religion. They were convinced that Cortes and the conquistadors were their god Quetzalcoatl. This theory made the Aztecs vulnerable and easily manipulated by the Spaniards. In the begging the Mexicans openly received the message of one true gods, or Christ, mainly because of their understanding of who they believed Cortes and the Spanish to be, their former god. The openness towards the Christian faith was quickly lost as the Spanish began to massacre and run roughshod over the Aztecs. Once the complete conquest had taken place the indigenous people had no choice to conform or to perish.

This writing is a very valuable piece of untold history, which allows the reader to understand the indigenous peoples view point. One thing that makes this extraordinary book so intriguing is the different angles in which the stories are retold. Even though every account is somewhat different, the bottom line remains the same. Their native neighbors betrayed the Aztec people, and their society was ripped apart by a group of greedy men who walked under the banner of peace and love. To a reader it is important to hear different accounts of the same story to get a well-rounded and holistic view of the actual events.

Broken Spears is a wonderful account of the sadness and brutality that took place during the Spanish invasion of Mexico. One has to remember, that the way of the world since the earliest recordings, has been a way of expansion and defeat among civilizations. It is truly unfortunate what the native people had to endure, but the intestinal fortitude that the Aztecs showed was truly inspirational, and something to be admires for generations.