Description
Historians have examined the Spanish conquest of the Aztec empire for centuries, yet an adequate interpretation of this major event still remains elusive. This is due to a lack of consensus within the limited amount of historical documents that have survived from the 16th century. However, what several modern histories have in common is that they frame Mexica identity in a derogatory way which responds directly in favor towards the Spanish imaginary of the Mexica. In fact, the Mexica and the Spanish had a lot more in common, despite several differences, than many would imagine. Some of these similarities, such as religion and political practices, were utilized by the Spanish to their advantage against the Mexica to consolidate power. The key to understanding how Mexican identity was reconstructed by the Spanish is by analyzing the context that the Mexica and the Spanish were coming from in pre-Conquest times and linking that to the historical documents which followed the post-Conquest era during the 16th century. This paper will demonstrate how the Mexica have been misrepresented and stripped of their history, which affects the perception of this influential civilization to this day. Furthermore, Mexica voices and those of other Indigenous groups will be emphasized to highlight another version of history which has often been silenced and omitted.
Reimagining Mexica Identity
Historians have examined the Spanish conquest of the Aztec empire for centuries, yet an adequate interpretation of this major event still remains elusive. This is due to a lack of consensus within the limited amount of historical documents that have survived from the 16th century. However, what several modern histories have in common is that they frame Mexica identity in a derogatory way which responds directly in favor towards the Spanish imaginary of the Mexica. In fact, the Mexica and the Spanish had a lot more in common, despite several differences, than many would imagine. Some of these similarities, such as religion and political practices, were utilized by the Spanish to their advantage against the Mexica to consolidate power. The key to understanding how Mexican identity was reconstructed by the Spanish is by analyzing the context that the Mexica and the Spanish were coming from in pre-Conquest times and linking that to the historical documents which followed the post-Conquest era during the 16th century. This paper will demonstrate how the Mexica have been misrepresented and stripped of their history, which affects the perception of this influential civilization to this day. Furthermore, Mexica voices and those of other Indigenous groups will be emphasized to highlight another version of history which has often been silenced and omitted.