The aztec account of the conquest of america, edited by miguel leonportilla beacon press, 1992. The broken spears 2007 revised edition by miguel leon. The aztec account of the conquest of mexico boston. Find summaries for every chapter, including a the broken spears. Its a beautiful book that reads something like an epic, with all the elements of tragedy, comedy and poetry. The book, broken spears was an interesting reading that talked about the spanish conquest of tenochtitlan. To include a comma in your tag, surround the tag with double quotes. The broken spears the book the broken spears authored by miguel leonportilla, provides a comprehensive and graphic description of the spanish conquest. The book is much different from others written about the defeat of the empire because it was written from the vantage point of the aztecs rather then the spanish. Author miguel leonportilla had undertaken the arduous task of translating key passages from the nativeamerican nahuati language accounts of the spanish invasion and conquest.
Summary of miguel leon portilla s the broken spears 829. For hundreds of years, the history of the conquest of mexico and the defeat of the aztecs has been told in the words of. Throughout the book, it becomes clear that the spanish were successful in their conquest as a result of a number of factors. The most recent english edition was published in 2007. The aztec account of the conquest of mexico 2 he was also terrified to learn how the cannon roared, how its noise resounded, how it caused one to faint and grow deaf. Aztec account of the spanish, from the messengers report.
The spanish were intimidating in appearance and in their weaponry. In the broken spears by miguel leonportilla we learn about the aztecs and how they were viciously conquered by the spaniards. These statistics include but are not limited to, socioeconomic classes, race, geographical. In this book, it tells us from the beginning how the spaniards began to make their way into tiny mexican villages. Throughout the book, portilla discusses the significant events that occurred in the aztec society. The aztec account of the conquest of mexico, introduction part 1 summary. The broken spears the broken spears is a collection of many accounts of the destruction of mexico by cortes and the conquistadors in their invasion. The broken spears by miguel leonportilla essay aztecs. The broken spears talks about the conquest of cortes, although it dates back ten years before his arrival in the east coast of. Aztec account of the spanish, from the messengers report 1519. The broken spears 2007 revised edition and millions of other books are. Find a summary of this and each chapter of the broken spears. These texts bear witness to the extraordinary vitality of an oral. In this book, it tells us from the beginning how the spaniards began.
In summary, a superb read for anyone interested in the spanish conquest of the. The passages used, written in the native language of the victims, provide us a brief description of the encounters with the spaniards that were not seen. Aztec account of the spanish, from the messengers report 1519 columbus was not the only one reporting back to his superiors. A literary analysis of the broken spears by miguel leon. Pdf broken spears the aztec account of the conquest of. The broken spears 2007 revised edition ebook by miguel. The aztec account of the conquest of mexico miguel leonportilla, editor, j. The book is much different from others written about the defeat of the empire because it was written from the vantage point of the aztecs. The report of their coming was brought to motecuhzoma, who immediately sent out messengers. The aztec account of the conquest of mexico spanish title. The monograph broken spears is structured through three distinct sections.
Admirals own words in his book on the first voyage and discovery of these. In this new and updated edition of his classic the broken spears, leonportilla has included accounts from native aztec descendants across the centuries. It sets up the parameters of the events that will be covered in the book. For hundreds of years, the history of the conquest of mexico and the defeat of the aztecs has been told in the words of the spanish victors.
The book narrates the story based on the point of view of the aztecs. In chapter 5, even though motecuhzoma was doing all he could to keep the spaniards. The broken spears by miguel leonportilla essay 871. The motive behind this conquest was cortes desire to bring a fortune of gold, spices, and land that can be claimed, back to spain.
This book highlights the important role that fear played in paralyzing aztec leadership. It was first published in spanish in 1959, and in english in 1962. Broken spears and bernal diaz in every historical event there tends to be conflicting sides, each member has their own point of view based on a plethora of statistics. Broken spears was the first book to tell the story of the conquest from the aztecs perspective. The questionandanswer section at the back of the book has more information on medical issues that come up in the book, including drug overdoses. Most history documents the spanish conquest of the aztec empire having taken place between 1519 and 1521, but as told in broken spears, there is record of the aztecs having received a bad omen almost ten years prior to the arrival of the spaniards. This study guide consists of approximately 21 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the broken spears 2007 revised edition. In the book originally written by miguel leonportilla, mirroring the event way back in 1519 when hernan cortes sailed from cuba to mexico and entered the capital of the aztecs, there were accounts that he gathered from the basic viewpoint of the aztec tribe.
It was as if he thought the new arrival was our prince quetzalcoatl. View the new experience and read this book on fulcrum. Throughout the book the broken spears we are introduced to the array of emotions and perspectives of the indigenous people, as. Your purchase of books or other items through links on this site helps keep this free educational site on the web. Broken spears essaysthe author argues that the spanish were completely at fault for the total destruction of the aztec empire. In this updated edition of the classic the broken spears, leonportilla has included accounts from native aztec descendants across the centuries. We are introduced to the ruler of the aztecs, known as moctecuhzoma. The broken spears is the story of the conquest of mexico, as told by the conquered. Narrative essay the broken spears broken spears narrative after reading the broken spears you will understand that the work is not intended to be an absolutely accurate reflection of the events during the colonization of mexico, rather various accounts, utilizing different means in which the nahua people were able to cope and survive through the events unfolding around them. The broken spears by miguel leonportilla free essays. The aztec account of the conquest of mexico, the author shares the aztec account of the spanish conquest of mexico in 1519. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The broken spears miguel leonportilla pdf the aztec. Miguel leonportilla has long been at the forefront of expanding that history to include the voices of indigenous peoples.
These texts bear witness to the extraordinary vitality of an oral tradition that preserves the viewpoints of the vanquished instead of the victors. The smoke that comes out with it has a pestilent odor. The broken spears is a book written by miguel leonportilla that gives accounts of the fall of the aztec empire to the spanish in the early 16th century. Leonportillas selections of events portrayed in this b. The broken spears 2007 revised edition book summary. Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. The book the broken spears is a very interesting and illuminating scholarly work about the important historical event of the spanish conquest of the aztecs.
Spears contains general evidence of well trained, effective, and dynamic aztec military forces capable of going toe to toe with spanish forces. The broken spears audiobook by miguel leonportilla. The aztec account of the conquest of mexico by miguel leonportilla is an account of the years 15191521 when cortes and his men entered mexico and began conquering it. The tale is told from the writings and images of the people who were conquered.
The book displays the emotions of these people well and, even though it gave them a stronger will to fight, they would only last so long. Read the broken spears pdf the aztec account of the conquest of mexico by miguel leonportilla beacon press for hundreds of years, the history of. The major nahuatl source for accounts in the broken spears is book 12 of the. Read the broken spears 2007 revised edition the aztec account of the conquest of mexico by miguel leonportilla available from rakuten kobo. In broken spears, the author explains how many factors other than spanish power contributed to the downfall of the aztecs.
For the purpose of summary and analysis, this guide breaks the introduction into three parts while retaining the ntroductions original subtitles within the summary sections. Those texts bear witness to the extraordinary vitality of an oral tradition that preserves the viewpoints of the vanquished instead of the victors. The aztec account of the conquest of mexico includes a foreword, an introduction, and 15 chapters. One section describes attaching defibrillator electrodes to restart a heart. The broken spears 2007 revised edition by miguel leonportilla. Essay about broken spears by miguel leonportilla 1505 words 7 pages. Study guide includes comprehensive information and analysis to help you understand the book. The aztec account of the conquest of mexico edited by miguel leonportilla with a forward by j. A thing like a ball of fire comes out of its entrails. The broken spears, by miguel leonportilla, is a detailed and graphic account of the spanish conquest, told from the point of view of the conquered the aztecs. It was originally published in spanish in 1959, and was only published in english in the year 1962.
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