Discussion #2 In Memoirs Bernal Diaz del Castillo describes the sights the Spanish conquistadors beheld in the Aztec capital Tenochtitlán. He comments that when they entered the Aztec market, they were "... astounded at the great number of people and the quantities of merchandise, and at the orderliness and good arrangements that prevailed, for we had never seen such a thing before...." It would seem that they were highly surprised at the level of development the Aztec empire displayed. In fact, the Aztecs and Spaniards had much in common. Nevertheless, a relatively small band of conquistadors led by Cortés will bring down the Aztec empire. The Europeans who follow will repeat some of the feats of the Spaniards who preceded them. However, the Spanish will be the ones to carry the "Black Legend" label, alluding to their atrocities in the Americas. In order to prepare for this discussion forum: 1. 1. Review and identify the relevant content in Chapter 2 to support your discussion. 2. Read the full text of Bernal Diaz del Castillo's comments from his Memoirs. After you have completed your reading, post your answers to only ONE of the following questions. 1. 1. Could the direction of discovery and colonization in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries have been reversed, that is, could the Aztecs have discovered and colonized western Europe? Why or why not? 2. English adventurers and Spanish conquistadors were "brothers under the skin." To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? 3. Upon reading the linked document, what evidence can you find that the Spanish were indeed awed by the Aztec empire and that this was a highly developed civilization? In order to earn the full credit points for this assignment, students must discuss at least one question, and respond to a fellow student's postings: 1. Directly and completely to the question that you selected. Clearly and accurately explain your answer based on factual information contained in the readings. Make sure that all statements are supported with facts from the readings (80 points). 2. Students must respond to at least one fellow student's posting and discuss the reason(s) for their agreement or disagreement, with the arguments that are presented. You must address specific points, and support your response with facts from the readings and other sources. (20 points). 3. Students can choose to respond to any posting, they do have to respond to a posting that discusses the question they addressed. Reminder: Please make sure to comply with all Netiquette Guidelines listed in the Getting Started module. Memoirs, Bernal Diaz del Castillo When we gazed upon all this splendour... we scarcely knew what to think, and we doubted whether all that we beheld was real. A series of large towns stretched themselves along the banks of the lake, out of which still larger ones rose magnificently above the waters. Innumerable crowds of canoes were plying everywhere around us; at regular distances we continually passed over new bridges, and before us lay the great city of Mexico in all its splendour.... Motecusuma himself, according to his custom, was sumptuously attired, had on a species of half boot, richly set with jewels, and whose soles were made of solid gold. The four grandees who supported him were also richly attired, which they must have put on somewhere on the road, in order to wait upon Motecusuma; they were not SO sumptuously dressed when they first came out to meet us. Besides these distinguished caziques, there were many other grandees around the monarch, some of whom held the canopy over his head, while others again occupied the road before him, and spread cotton cloths on the ground that his feet might not touch the bare earth. No one of his suite ever looked at him full in the face; every one in his presence stood with eyes downcast, and it was only his four nephews and cousins who supported him that durst look up. ... Our commander, attended by the greater part of our cavalry and foot, all well armed, as, indeed, we were at all times, had proceeded to the Tlatelulco. . . . The moment we arrived in this immense market, we were perfectly astonished at the vast numbers of people, the profusion of merchandise which was there exposed for sale, and at the good police and order that reigned throughout- The grandees who accompanied us drew our attention to the smallest circumstance, and gave us full explanation of all we saw. Every species of merchandise had a separate spot for its sale. We first of all visited those divisions of the market appropriated for the sale of gold and silver wares, of jewels, of cloths interwoven with feathers, and of other manufactured goods; besides slaves of both sexes. . . . Next to these came the dealers in coarser wares--cotton, twisted thread, and cacao... . In one place were sold the stuffs manufactured of nequen; ropes, and sandals; in another place, the sweet maguey root, ready cooked, and various other things made from this plant. In another division of the market were exposed the skins of tigers, lions, jackals, otters, red deer, wild cats, and of other beasts of prey, some of which were tanned- In another place were sold beans and sage, with other herbs and vegetables. A particular market was assigned for the merchants in fowls, turkeys, ducks, rabbits, hares, deer, and dogs; also for fruit-sellers, pastrycooks, and tripe-sellers. Not far from these were exposed all manner of earthenware, from the large earthen cauldron to the smaller pitchers. Then came the dealers in honey and honeycakes, and other sweetmeats. Next to these, the timber-merchants, furniture-dealers, with their stores of tables, benches, cradles, and all sorts of wooden implements, all separately arranged.... In this market-place there were also courts of justice, to which three judges and several constables were appointed, who inspected the goods exposed for sale. ... I wish 1 had completed the enumeration of all this profusion of merchandise. The variety was so great that it would occupy more space than I can well spare to note them down in; besides which, the market was so crowded with people, and the thronging so excessive in the porticoes, that it was quite impossible to see all in one day. . . . Indeed, this infernal temple, from its great height, commanded a view of the whole surrounding neighbourhood. From this place we could likewise see the three causeways which led into Mexico. . . . We also observed the aqueduct which ran from Chapultepec, and provided the whole town with sweet water. We could also distinctly see the bridges across the openings, by which these causeways were intersected, and through which the waters of the lake ebbed and flowed. The lake itself was crowded with canoes, which were bringing provisions, manufactures, and other merchandize to the city. From here we also discovered that the only communication of the houses in this city, and of all the other towns built in the lake, was by means of drawbridges or canoes. In all these towns the beautiful white plastered temples rose above the smaller ones,... and this, it may be imagined, was a splendid sight. After we had sufficiently gazed upon this magnificent picture, we again turned our eyes toward the great market, and beheld the vast numbers of buyers and sellers who thronged them. The bustle and noise occasioned by this multitude of human beings was so great that it could be heard at a distance of more than four miles. CITATION: del Castillo, Bernal Diaz. The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal de Castillo. Translated by I.I. Lockhart. London: J. Hatchard and Son, 1844. pp. 220-21, 235-38. 
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