Early Voyages + Omens

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Cheng Xiong

Transcript of Early Voyages + Omens

Page 1: Early Voyages + Omens

Cheng Xiong

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AbstractThree different view of events that occurred before the

Conquest of Mexico. There are the accounts of the 8 omens which the Native took as being bad signs, the early voyage documented by Bernal Díaz before he became a foot soldier for Cortés, and last the events led by Cortés base of the account of his first letter.

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8 Omens seen by the Natives10 years before the Spaniards arrived in the new world, the Natives started seeing many omens which were taken to be

bad signs for the future of the natives. The Native in Mexico took any “signs” as way to look to the futures. There

were eight different signs which the Native took as bad omens.

The first was, “great column of flame which burned in night, shooting out such of flame which burned in the

night, shooting out such brilliant sparks and flashes that it seemed to rain fire on the earth and to blaze like

daybreak…this portent burned for a year” (7)

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The second was, “the temple of the demon Huitzilopochtli, in the sector named Tlacateco, caught

fire and burned, though no one had set it a fire” (9)

(Picture courtesy of Broken Spear part 1)

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The third was, “a lighting-bolt fell on a temple of idolatry whose roof was made of straw…The bolt fell on the temple with neither flash nor thunder, when there was only light rain, like a dew. It was taken as an omen and miracle which boded evil, and all burned down”

(9)

The fourth was, “comets flashed through the sky in the daytime while the sun was shining. They raced by

threes from the west to the east with great haste and violence, shooting off bright coals and sparks of fire, trailing such long tails that their splendor filled the

sky” (9)

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The fifth was when, “the Lake of Mexico rose when there was no wind. It boiled, and boiled again, and foamed until it reached a great height, until it washed against half the house in the city. House after house collapsed

and was destroyed by the waters.

The sixth was when, “the people heard in the night the voice of a weeping women, who sobbed and sighed

and drowned herself in her tears” (9)

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The seventh was, “the men whose work is in the Lake of Mexico…trapped a dark-feather bird resembling a crane and took it to Montecuhzoma so that he might see it…A round

diadem was set in its head in the form of a clear and transparent mirror, in which could be seen the heavens, the three stars in

Taurus and stars in the sign of the Gemini. When Motecuhzoma saw this, he was filled with dread and

wonder, for he believed it was a bad omen to see the stars if heaven in the diadem of that bird. When Motecuhzoma looked into the mirror a second time, he saw a host of people, all armed

like warriors, coming forward in well-ordered ranks. They skirmished and fought with each other, and were accomplished

by strange deer and other creatures” (10)

(Picture courtesy of Broken Spear part 1)

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The final was, “the natives saw two men merged into one body-these they called Tlacantzolli (‘men-squeezed-together’)-and others who had two heads but only one body…to the natives,

these marvels augured their deaths and ruin, signifying that the end of the world was coming and that other people would be

created to inhabit the earth” (11)

(Picture courtesy of Broken Spear part 1)

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These omen where signs in which had not been seen before by the native. To many Natives their

conclusions were that bad things were coming to them.

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Expedition under the order of Cordova and Grijalva

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Bernal DíazBernal Díaz wrote his account on behalf of all the foot

soldiers. He felt like that the account written by Cortés did not show what the foot soldiers went through. He wrote his account to give his point of view. He wrote his account based on his memory and memories from his peers. The account are those of his earlier voyages with Cordova and Grijalva.

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Expedition under CordovaAt age 24, Díaz first left the country of Spain to the island of Cuba. The

governor of the Island was Diego Velasquez. Three years later having not received any Indians as promise by Velasquez, “we made an agreement with a gentleman named Francisco Hernandez de Cordova, that he should be our leader, for he was well fitted for the post, and that we should try our fortune in seeking and exploring new lands where we might find employment” (4). They purchased three ship and set off to an island called Island of Guanajes (4). (Stop #1 on Map)

February 8th, 1517, they set off in exploring. They first encounters some natives, “These Indians were clothed in cotton shirts made like jackets, and covered their persons with a narrow cloth, and they seemed to us a people superior to the Cubans, for the Cuban Indians go about naked, only the women wearing a cloth reaching to the thighs” (6). These Native came and allowed then to go to their town which they called Cape Catoche(6). They were ambush by many Indians but they drove them all away, “we soon put them to flight when they felt the sharp edge of our swords, and the effect of our guns and crossbows, and fifteen of them fell dead” (8). (Stop #2 on Map)

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They got back to their ship and set sail off the land. They then reached a town called Campeche, where they meet some native that took them back to their town, but it seemed like they were going to get offered sacrifices they fled. (Stop #3 on Map)

The next island they reached was called Champoton. (Stop #4 on Map) Here they all got attacked wounding their captain ten times and surrounded but they were able to get away (11-13). Many men were wounded and unable to keep all their ship they left one behind.

They started towards Florida. Some of the men went on board the land with the captain, of one of the smaller boat, where they meet many Indians and were attacked able to get away they set sail for Havana (13-15). (End on Map)

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Map of the Expedition under Cordova

1

2

34

End

Start

(Courtesy of Google-Map 1)

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Expedition under GrijajvaThen in 1518, they set off to discover the land called Yucatan. They sent four ships, “as they were

men of distinction, it was agreed that Juan De Grijalva who was a kinsman of Diego Velasquez, should go as Captian General, that Alonzo de Avila, Pedro de Alvarado, and Francico de Montejo should each have command of a ship” (17). They landed and meet a Indian women that told them everyone left because they fear the Spaniards told through their interpreters Melchorejo and Julianillo. They were soon ambushed but were able to get away. (Stop 1 on Map 2)

They soon came to a town called Ayagualulo, not staying long they set sail (23). They then landed on a land in which they heard was accompanied by the great Montezuma. “When we got on shore we found three Caciques (Chiefs), one of them the governor appointed by Montezuma, who had many of the Indians of his household with him. They brought many fowles of the country and maize bread such as they always eat, and fruits such as pineapples and zapotes, which in other parts were called mameies, and they were seated under the shade of the trees, and had spread mats on ground, and they invited us to be seated, all by signs, for Julianillo the man from cape Catoche, did not understand their language which is Mexican” (25). The Indians brough them gold and jewelry, they took formal control of the land, also took a Indian with they calling him Francisco (25). They decide to set sail back to Cuba with the news of these new land and Indians. (Stop 2 on Map 2)

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Map of Expedition under Grijava

Stop 2

Stop 1

(Courtesy of Google-Map 2)

KeyRoute Traveled

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Based on first letters back to the King of Spain

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Hernan Cortés Hernan Cortés led the Conquest of Mexico. He wrote his

accounts of the conquest so that he could keep track of record to be sent back to the King of Spain. The reason behind his account is to show how he led the conquest of Mexico. The account below are of those before the discovery of Mexico.

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First LetterThe discover of the land called Yucatan, by four man called Francisco Frenandez de Cordoba, Lope Ochoa de Caycedo and Cristobal Morante and maybe Diego Velazquez decide to set off to search for slaves. They

landed on Yucatan started their search.

They first landed on island called Camoche where they got gold but were not able to stay and force out by the native they landed on town called Mochocobon with

a chief called Champoton, being attacked and lost many men they left the island heading back to Cuba

(4-5).

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First Letter Cont.Diego Velazquez driven by greed for gold he assembled ships head by Juan de

Gijalba to this place for more gold. The discovered a new island which was called Santa Cruz. They got to land where they needed water, when asking for

water they also asked for gold, the Indians were not so fond of this and attacked them.

They reached a river called Grijalba, where they saw many Indians and received little gold (8). Diego Velazquez made another fleet headed by Fernando

Cortés(11). They landed and met some Indians, telling them they had come to spread the Holy Faith(12). They set sail and reach a river called Grijlba, they

meet some Indians where they receive food and some gold, but then they were attacked(20-27). Cortés mentions why he would be the best fit for the travel

and he sail to this new land. He describes the people and the animals that are living on this new land (28-30). He ends the first letter with information on the

gold and material they received from the Indians.

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Map of Cortés Early Voyage

Camoche

Santa Cruz

Grijalbariver

KeyThe route traveledGijalba river

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Each of the three sources by the Natives, Bernal Díaz, and Hernan Cortés had a different view of what was going on at the time. Each view was different because of where they stood in society.