Cortez's Feelings About The Native Americans example essay topic

339 words
Chapter 1: The Confrontation Between Cortez and Montezuma (1519-1521) If I had heard the account back in 1522 I would have found the Native Americans portrayed as barbaric, savage, and cowardice creatures of myth. Cortez goes into a very detailed description of the religious sacrificing of humans, but shuns the details of other less "civilized" religious ceremonies. Personally, I view this as a way to make the Native Americans seem less civilized and more ruthless. I believe the mythical and cowardice sense comes through the artwork portrayed in the chapter.

In most of the artwork the Native Americans are attacking from behind, to most people that is viewed as a cowardly way to fight. I find that the mythical element comes through the body language, whether is be the artist own style or bad copying, the Native Americans seem to be portrayed in awkward positions. In reading this first chapter, I found there were many questions raised and answered by the text. Cortez's feelings about the Native Americans were obvious.

The Native Americans needed to be civilized, and they needed to be brought together under God. I found the Native American's account of events much more interesting and probably more believable based on comparisons of more detail of events and the motives behind what Cortez was trying to betray. The Native Americans have an explanation for all the events that Cortez portrayed as "plotting" and "massacre", and they seem very logical. I inferred from the reading that the reason why the women and children were gone form the village when Cortez arrived was because of some sort of festival or celebration. I found that the portrayal of the Spaniards by the Native American's in account and art work was well founded. The Spaniards were greedy and did kill for no reason.

Seen in this light, I would find that the Native Americans would treat the next Europeans with caution, due to the massacre that occurred.