The Broken Spears Quotes Analysis

According to the texts, Motecuhzuma attempted to deceive the Spanish by sending one of his envoys who would pretend to be him. When the Spanish asked Tzihuacpopocatzin, Motecuhzuma's representative, if he was Motecuhzuma, he replied that he was was. However, the Spanish immediately knew that it was a lie thanks to their Tlaxcala allies who told them the truth and ridiculed the Aztec messengers for lying. Motecuhzuma's attempt to deceive the Spanish ended in failure and his people rushed back to tell him the news.

Motezuma was a monarch who had power of life and death over his affairs. Motezuma reside in the capital (knot Petite Long), which is the heart of Aztec empire. He was a exceedingly religious sovereign specifically devoted to the god Quetzalcoatl who was a immensely benevolent being. Montezuma was a great leader who founded the great empire and built the grand monuments at (Tinactin Lon). Quetzalcoatl was considered Motezuma Idol he dedicated whole hundreds of temples to his god. Quetzalcoatl (the feathered serpent). The name of the three cities were Tinactin Lon, Tlacopan and Texcoco made up the Aztec Empire. Describe purpose of Aztec/Mexicha rites and sacrifices was very valueable and the only way to earn the benevolence (blessings) of the

When I was younger I had a friend that would love to tell stories of the Aztec, or Mexica and although I don’t think she knew what she was talking about truly, I started a liking for their culture. Their culture is a very unique one that will be known for its practice of sacrificing humans, making of magnificent jewelry, and the making of their downfall by the Spaniards. The Broken Spears is a book that so well put together the accounts of the Mexica and the conquest of the Spaniards. Broken Spears was an interesting account that could be seen to have a little bias on the side of the Mexica. Many reasons could follow like the fact that it was written after the whole ordeal. Although Broken Spears seems to have a bias I claim that it does show how the culture collides well because the difference in the first encounter with its first judgement of each people to each other, the difference with the technologies and living, and the difference between the religions they both believed in.

Montezuma and Peter the Great are two starkly contrasting rulers. One ruled in the Aztec empire from 1502-1520 in warm tropics and the other all the way across the globe in Russia from 1682-1725 amidst freezing cold winters. Despite the huge difference in location and time period these two rulers were both absolute in their ruling. Three of the most important qualities of an absolute ruler are to be a religious leader, their ability to make long lasting social effects on their people, and their ability to control all the power by themselves. Through the lens of controlling their land completely Montezuma made larger change. Whereas Peter the Great made more change in the religious affairs of

Moctezuma II, historically referred to as the ninth emperor of Tenochtitlan in 1502, was said to have been a ruler who “was considered to be both man and god.” Alternately, according to a significant dominant viewpoint by Charles Phillips, an esteemed contemporary historian, Moctezuma has proven to have “lost the confidence of his people.” Moctezuma II was a man who manipulated power to exercise military, political, economic and social control in the Ancient Aztec society at an attempt to benefit himself at the cost of his people. This theory has been accurately represented historically through the analysis of various archaeological sources. Moctezuma’s personal life, including his military, political and economic accomplishments; together

As we arrived to the New World we were approached by foreign messengers who are from Mexico city claiming they were sent by their emperor Motecuhzoma. As they approached us I noticed they brought gifts, later on they began to smother Cortes with gifts by placing masks, vests, collars and even sandals on him. I was then relieved that these messengers did not come up to us and try to cause any harm. However,

Two elements of the “Model Conqueror” are his just use of violence and “the presentation of himself as a warrior and a military leader “. In his letter the violence that Cortes participates in is never his fault and he portrays it always as self-defense and necessary. “The use of terror becomes on of the most important weapons of the conquest” because it was used to massacre most Natives and enslave the rest. For example, during one of the last battles when Cortes was conquering Mexico he said “I asked for peace from fear, but that I was pained to be under the necessity of injuring them and destroying so fine a city”. Here he is saying that if the Natives had not made an attack first he would not be at war with them, that he did not want war

I would describe Motecuhzoma as being very child like and acting similar to a spolied kid. He had no problem acting all high and mighty when his country was at the top of the food chain. Then when the mysterious strangers showed up he tried to bribe them and make friends with them because he feared that they were all powerful gods. Because if they were a neighboring tribe he would have put more effort into conquering them instead of trying to befriend them. At first he sent guards to the costal borders when he belived it was the neigboring tribe trying to attack. Until he learned it they may actually be gods did he start cowering in fear and making bad decisions. For example when they started getting closer instead of sending out a military

Stories depict Montezuma as being afraid of the Spanish, but this is believed to be because he thought that they were the returned god, Quetzalcoatl

The opening scene of “The Broken Spears”, directed by Kasey Strout, will set story for the rest of this epic tale. This version has many well-known actors and some footage is of these Mexican cities today. The scene begins with descriptions of the omens through footage of all that is happening from the point of view of Nahualt of Sahagun (played by Steve Buscemi). His side of the story tends to be negative because he is accounting the downfall of his nation. In cohesion, the next story the audience will learn about is of the same omens, but from a different point of view. This time the omens are seen from the eyes of Munoz Camargo (Richard Kiel). Munoz Camargo’s city of Tlaxcala is allies with conquistador Hernán Cortés (Danny Trejo). Cortés

In Acosta’s story he mentions Montezuma and his god-like ruling. He forced the natives to take part in “bloody rituals” and “human sacrifices” in order to be crowned a god. This ruler has put the lives of others at stake in pursuance of respect and fear from others. Acosta also mentions the overthrowing Montezuma when the Spaniards

The Aztec empire was a tremendous civilization. Beginning with origins of a people poor and deprived, the Aztecs created an extraordinary legacy of development in history. Through the advanced systems of agriculture and warfare, this group of people were able to construct a metropolis of impeccable wealth and recognition. Unfortunately, their power came to destruction at the hands of the Spanish. Historians have after concluded that this was direct result of a second-rate Aztec military, and a domination of Spanish arms. However, the Aztecs had Cortez’s army outnumbered 100,000 to 1,000. Their whole society was built from the efficiently of their military— it was the specialty of all males. And when comparing the weapons of the Aztecs and Spanish,

The capture and killing of our great leader, Atahualpa shook our Incan Empire forever, with the effects residing in your daily life, my son. I remember it vividly as I was part of the third squadron, the people who came prepared in armor made of metal plates, covered with sheets of gold and silver, which glistened in the spring sun. Within our squadron, Atahualpa was present, sitting on a petite stool on top of a majestic litter, which was lined with bird feathers that represented a rainbow and ornate with sheets of gold and silver. It was our job to protect him, to make sure that the peculiar foreign white men did not cause harm. By nightfall, it was clear that we had failed in our duties. Atahualpa was captive in the hands of the Spanish.

When Cortes and his men arrived in Tenochtitlan, they were well received. The Moctezuma could have ordered their death as soon as they arrived but instead the provided them with servants to meet their every need. The believed that the arrival of the Spanish, especially Cortes and his men was an omen. The god Quetzalcoatl was supposed to return to destroy the Aztecs and that’s why Moctezuma sent gifts to the spanish when they arrived in Veracruz. They felt the need to show respect. Other leaders encouraged Moctezuma to kill outside yet they refused to.

The sun rose high in the sky as midday approached. Ordinarily one could hear children playing in the streets of Tenochtitlan, the capital of the mighty Aztec empire. My ears strain to hear the footsteps of bustling passerby on the way to the market or perhaps a vendor hollering about his high-quality women’s clothes, but they searched in vain. All was quiet, not a sound could be heard from within my own home. The silence was deafening; I had an urge to break a vase to end it, but there were not any vases left. My husband and I had ripped all of our clothes and broken all of our furniture. The items we could not break, we threw in the river for it was required of us in order to appease the gods. Everything could be replaced as long as we survive