I like Daniel Kokotajilo's take on the conquistadors, showing that some of the common explanations for their success can't actually explain just how successful they were:
I didn't read her name here. There was no one more important than Malinche. An Indigenous woman who acted as interpreter and advisor for Cortes between the warrior chiefs, including Moctezuma. Mother of Cortes' child, first of the mixed race Euro-Indigenous. Sold by her parents at a young age, then gifted to Cortes as an offering. She was intelligent, with a gift for languages. Cortes would take their son back to Spain. She died in what is now Mexico City. Long referred to as a traitor to the Mexican people. She is an incredible story. Largely forgotten, but a hugely important part of the conquest
Interesting to reflect on why today we have more sympathy for the Aztecs or Inca than for the Corinthians or Carthaginians whose cities were razed and people incorporated into an empire. Is it because (refolded) Carthage eventually became a wealthy city of the empire, not much different from Rome? Because they were NOT incorporated but continued to be foreign and whose elites could never be equal to the elites of Spain itself?
I like Daniel Kokotajilo's take on the conquistadors, showing that some of the common explanations for their success can't actually explain just how successful they were:
https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/ivpKSjM4D6FbqF4pZ/cortes-pizarro-and-afonso-as-precedents-for-takeover
I didn't read her name here. There was no one more important than Malinche. An Indigenous woman who acted as interpreter and advisor for Cortes between the warrior chiefs, including Moctezuma. Mother of Cortes' child, first of the mixed race Euro-Indigenous. Sold by her parents at a young age, then gifted to Cortes as an offering. She was intelligent, with a gift for languages. Cortes would take their son back to Spain. She died in what is now Mexico City. Long referred to as a traitor to the Mexican people. She is an incredible story. Largely forgotten, but a hugely important part of the conquest
Interesting to reflect on why today we have more sympathy for the Aztecs or Inca than for the Corinthians or Carthaginians whose cities were razed and people incorporated into an empire. Is it because (refolded) Carthage eventually became a wealthy city of the empire, not much different from Rome? Because they were NOT incorporated but continued to be foreign and whose elites could never be equal to the elites of Spain itself?
Fascinating history. Really enjoyed reading this.