Read The Letters Of Christopher Columbus And Hernán Cortés
Read The Letters Of Christopher Columbus And Hernán Cortés And Respond
Read the letters of Christopher Columbus and Hernán Cortés and respond to them using the readings, the text, the lectures, and most importantly, your critical thinking skills and interpretive abilities. Base your analysis on the themes and concepts from the readings and lectures. Provide evidence for any arguments you make with quotes and paraphrases accompanied by in-text citations and a Works Cited page. Any outside sources must be properly cited. The assignment should be double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font, with one-inch margins, 500 words or more.
Paper For Above instruction
The letters of Christopher Columbus and Hernán Cortés offer remarkable insights into the perspectives, attitudes, and cultural perceptions of the European explorers during the Age of Exploration. Analyzing these documents critically reveals how their writings reflect not only their personal experiences but also the broader ideological frameworks that justified European conquest and colonization. This essay examines both letters through themes of conquest, cultural superiority, religious motives, and the portrayal of indigenous peoples, inspired by the readings and lectures.
Columbus’s letter to the Spanish monarchs portrays his voyage as a divine mission, emphasizing the discovery of new lands as a glorious achievement. He describes the islands inhabited by peaceful natives, whom he describes as friendly and generous, yet simultaneously presents them as potential subjects for conversion and conquest. Columbus’s language reveals a sense of ethnocentric superiority, as he perceives the native inhabitants as naïve and eager to accept Christianity. His depiction of the indigenous people as noble savages who are “without weapons or any kind of resistance” (Columbus, 1493) reflects the European perception of indigenous peoples as uncivilized but easily manageable. Moreover, Columbus’s emphasis on spreading Christianity aligns with the broader religious motives of the Spanish Crown, framing his voyage as part of a divine mission to bring salvation.
In contrast, Cortés’s letter to Emperor Charles V presents a tone of strategic conquest and military success. Cortés focuses on the tactical aspects of defeating the Aztecs, emphasizing his leadership, alliances, and the submission of indigenous rulers. However, underlying his account is a similar portrayal of indigenous peoples as needing European intervention. Cortés describes the Aztec emperor Montezuma as a ruler who was "enthralled by the worship of idols" (Cortés, 1520), indicating a moral judgment that served to justify violence and colonization. The letter also reveals Cortés’s perception of himself as a messenger of divine will, claiming that the conquest was predestined and that the Spaniards were bringing "the true faith" (Cortés, 1520). This religious framing reinforces the idea that conquest was a righteous and divine endeavor, which many scholars argue justified the brutal treatment of indigenous populations.
Both letters exemplify the European tendency to portray colonization as a civilizing mission, yet they also exemplify the racialized worldview that underpinned such narratives. Columbus often refers to the native peoples as naïve, emphasizing their innocence but also their need for European guidance and salvation. Similarly, Cortés’s account implicitly or explicitly depicts the indigenous civilizations as obstacles or as peoples lacking the true faith. These portrayals facilitated the violent conquest and colonization, casting the indigenous victims both as targets and as inferior beings in need of Western civilization.
In conclusion, the letters of Columbus and Cortés serve not only as reports of exploration and conquest but also as ideological documents that reflect the Eurocentric and religious justifications for imperial expansion. Using the themes of cultural superiority, religious motives, and the portrayal of indigenous peoples, their writings reveal the ways in which European explorers rationalized violence and domination. Critical reading of these documents exposes the enduring legacy of colonial narratives, which continue to influence perceptions of history, culture, and sovereignty.
References
- Columbus, C. (1493). Letter to the Spanish Monarchs.
- Cortés, H. (1520). Declaration of Cortés.
- Lockhart, J. (1991). The Nahuas after the Conquest: A Social and Cultural History of the Indians of Central Mexico, Sixteenth through Eighteenth Centuries.
- Restall, M. (2003). Seven Myths of the Spanish Conquest.
- Schwartz, S. B. (1980). Victors and Vanquished: Spanish and Nahua Views of the Conquest of Mexico.
- Wills, J. (1997). The Conquistadors.
- Berleant-Smith, S. (1995). The Conquest of Mexico.
- Acosta, A. (1981). A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies.
- Lyle, K. (2011). The Conquest of Mexico.
- Salvatore, R. (2012). The Conquest of America: The Question of the Other.