Montezuma Research Paper
King Montezuma was the leader of the Aztec empire from 1502-1520. The Aztecs had a large empire and complex civilization in present day Mexico. At their height, the Aztec empire had about five million citizens, about the same population as present day Paris. Hernando Cortez, a Spanish conquistador, set out to explore Mexico in 1518. In doing so, he disobeyed King Charles, the King of Spain. Cortez left Spain with 500 men in 11 ships. Once he arrived in Mexico, he burned most of his ships so his troops can’t escape back to Spain. He declared war against the Aztecs. Despite his underwhelming numbers compared to the Aztecs, the Spaniards did more than hold their own thanks to the revolutionary advantage of gun powder. On June 29th, 1920 Montezuma
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Hernando Cortez himself wrote a letter to his King updating him on the progress in Mexico. He explained how Montezuma, who was currently a prisoner, asked to be carried to the roof of his fort to speak to his captains and Aztec people, to convince his people to terminate the war. On the roof, however, one of his own subjects struck him on the head with a stone. The attack was so powerful that Montezuma died three days after the incident. Bernardino de Sahagun translated a collection of native accounts about the death of Montezuma. The story is completely different from Hernando Cortez’s explanation. The accounts were translated from the Aztec’s native language into Spanish by Bernardino de Sahagun, although he presumably altered them minimally. Montezuma and Itzquauhtzin mounted the roof of the fort, and Itzquauhtzin attempted to have the Aztecs surrender. The Aztecs rioted against the idea, and arrows fell upon the roof. The Spaniards used their shields to block Montezuma and Itzquauhtzin on the roof from the arrows. However, four days later the Spaniards threw the dead bodies of Montezuma and Itzquauhtzin out of a window. Diego Duran created a secondary account based on Chronicle X in 1581, providing yet another possible explanation of the death of Montezuma. He explains how the Spaniards imprisoned Montezuma and some noblemen and great Lords. Montezuma was found dead behind bars with a chain around his feet and five dagger wounds in his chest. The other prisoners were found dead lying around Montezuma. The Spaniards had slew the Aztec prisoners prior to fleeing Mexico. Although nobody is completely certain how Montezuma died, assumptions and possible explanations have been made using the given
Hernando Cortez himself wrote a letter to his King updating him on the progress in Mexico. He explained how Montezuma, who was currently a prisoner, asked to be carried to the roof of his fort to speak to his captains and Aztec people, to convince his people to terminate the war. On the roof, however, one of his own subjects struck him on the head with a stone. The attack was so powerful that Montezuma died three days after the incident. Bernardino de Sahagun translated a collection of native accounts about the death of Montezuma. The story is completely different from Hernando Cortez’s explanation. The accounts were translated from the Aztec’s native language into Spanish by Bernardino de Sahagun, although he presumably altered them minimally. Montezuma and Itzquauhtzin mounted the roof of the fort, and Itzquauhtzin attempted to have the Aztecs surrender. The Aztecs rioted against the idea, and arrows fell upon the roof. The Spaniards used their shields to block Montezuma and Itzquauhtzin on the roof from the arrows. However, four days later the Spaniards threw the dead bodies of Montezuma and Itzquauhtzin out of a window. Diego Duran created a secondary account based on Chronicle X in 1581, providing yet another possible explanation of the death of Montezuma. He explains how the Spaniards imprisoned Montezuma and some noblemen and great Lords. Montezuma was found dead behind bars with a chain around his feet and five dagger wounds in his chest. The other prisoners were found dead lying around Montezuma. The Spaniards had slew the Aztec prisoners prior to fleeing Mexico. Although nobody is completely certain how Montezuma died, assumptions and possible explanations have been made using the given