Seven Myths of the Seven Myths of the Spanish ConquestSpanish Conquest

Megan BeaverMegan Beaver

History 27 History 27

Introduction Introduction

Seven Myths of the Spanish Conquest was Seven Myths of the Spanish Conquest was

published in 2003, written by Matthew Restall. The published in 2003, written by Matthew Restall. The

aim of the book is to dispel untrue myths that aim of the book is to dispel untrue myths that

most of the public believe to be true. Restall basesmost of the public believe to be true. Restall bases

his theories on a wide range of sources and his theories on a wide range of sources and

perspectives. Restall looks at the whole picture perspectives. Restall looks at the whole picture

not just groups point of view, he studied not just groups point of view, he studied

documents from the Spanish, Native Americans,documents from the Spanish, Native Americans,

Introduction Continued Introduction Continued

and from West Africans. Restall also studied the and from West Africans. Restall also studied the

Conquest itself and the consequences thereafter, Conquest itself and the consequences thereafter,

he dispels inaccuracies in the historical record by he dispels inaccuracies in the historical record by

breaking down each myth into one chapter and breaking down each myth into one chapter and

explains how and why that myth is wrong. Restall explains how and why that myth is wrong. Restall

paints a more complete picture of the Spanish paints a more complete picture of the Spanish

Conquest that is not only three dimensional but Conquest that is not only three dimensional but

well informed and interesting. well informed and interesting.

A Handful of Adventurers A Handful of Adventurers

The book the The book the Life and Voyages Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus of Christopher Columbus which which is highly fictionalized is is highly fictionalized is responsible for many responsible for many misconceptions of Columbus misconceptions of Columbus himself. It paints Columbus as a himself. It paints Columbus as a dissident and paints him to be dissident and paints him to be heroic for his efforts to prove heroic for his efforts to prove the earth was flat. the earth was flat.

Columbus did not discover the Columbus did not discover the Americas on purpose, it was an Americas on purpose, it was an accident and if he had not accident and if he had not discovered someone else would discovered someone else would have. have.

A Handful of AdventurersA Handful of Adventurers

A Conquistadors purpose was to A Conquistadors purpose was to report to the crown and petition for report to the crown and petition for rewards. Their reports or probanza de rewards. Their reports or probanza de merito downplayed any involvement merito downplayed any involvement from other parties aids the from other parties aids the misconceptions that a few hundred misconceptions that a few hundred Spaniards could conquer the new Spaniards could conquer the new world and overthrow the likes of the world and overthrow the likes of the Aztecs. These self written reports Aztecs. These self written reports glorified the author, yet are very glorified the author, yet are very important historical documents, and important historical documents, and can give an explanation as to how can give an explanation as to how only a "handful" of men could only a "handful" of men could accomplish conquering a new land. accomplish conquering a new land.

Cortes and his accomplishments can Cortes and his accomplishments can be explained by the use of the proof be explained by the use of the proof of merit documents, he simply of merit documents, he simply painted himself in a favorable manor. painted himself in a favorable manor.

Invisible Warriors Invisible Warriors

The Spaniards may have been The Spaniards may have been outnumbered by native enemies, outnumbered by native enemies, but were also outnumbered by but were also outnumbered by their native allies. The Spanish their native allies. The Spanish did not conquer the Americas did not conquer the Americas unassisted, "friendly Indians" did unassisted, "friendly Indians" did more than their fair share of more than their fair share of fighting.fighting.

Africans either slaves or free Africans either slaves or free men were "invisible warriors" men were "invisible warriors" often fighting alongside the often fighting alongside the Spanish but a rarely mentioned, Spanish but a rarely mentioned, hence the perception that the hence the perception that the Spanish seemed to dominate the Spanish seemed to dominate the battlefield with sheer might. battlefield with sheer might.

Invisible Warriors Invisible Warriors

It was sheer luck that Pizarro It was sheer luck that Pizarro had success in Peru, without had success in Peru, without disease and civil war his forces disease and civil war his forces would have died from starvation would have died from starvation or had been killed in battle. or had been killed in battle.

Not all conquistadores were Not all conquistadores were European. Many Africans were European. Many Africans were conquistadors like Valiente and conquistadors like Valiente and Garrido, though very few black Garrido, though very few black conquistadores were from Spain conquistadores were from Spain and Portugal. and Portugal.

The Conquest of Mexico and The Conquest of Mexico and Spanish expansion was aided by Spanish expansion was aided by black conquistadores like black conquistadores like Garrido and Valiente.Garrido and Valiente.

Under the Lordship of the Under the Lordship of the King King

Many myths were created by Many myths were created by what Restall calls the ideology of what Restall calls the ideology of imperial justification, a system imperial justification, a system that rewarded the that rewarded the conquistadores. The crown conquistadores. The crown received a share of the spoils and received a share of the spoils and the conquistadores were agents the conquistadores were agents of God which can lead to boasting of God which can lead to boasting and pressure to please the crown. and pressure to please the crown. The requirements to fulfill a The requirements to fulfill a contract or comply with the crown contract or comply with the crown often led to the conquistadores often led to the conquistadores misrepresenting the situation for misrepresenting the situation for example Columbus claimed there example Columbus claimed there was plenty of gold and friendly was plenty of gold and friendly natives in the Americas. natives in the Americas.

Under the Lordship of the Under the Lordship of the King King

The conquest was incomplete, The conquest was incomplete, after the "competition" after the "competition" conquistadores in Mexico were conquistadores in Mexico were still seeking treasure, living in still seeking treasure, living in the cities they destroyed the cities they destroyed relying on allies. Remote relying on allies. Remote indigenous populations had no indigenous populations had no interest in colonization. interest in colonization.

Six attempts to settle in Florida Six attempts to settle in Florida and the River Plate basin failed. and the River Plate basin failed. One group resorted to One group resorted to cannibalism. cannibalism.

Attempts to spread Christianity Attempts to spread Christianity were incomplete until the 16th were incomplete until the 16th century. century.

The Indians Are Coming to The Indians Are Coming to an End an End

The myth that the Indian The myth that the Indian culture and way of life were culture and way of life were destroyed by the conquest, destroyed by the conquest, portrays the Natives in an portrays the Natives in an unfavorable light making them unfavorable light making them seem less sympathetic. seem less sympathetic.

Native societies were far too Native societies were far too innocent to survive once the innocent to survive once the Europeans came along. Europeans came along.

Before the Europeans Natives Before the Europeans Natives were uncivilized and there was were uncivilized and there was plenty of land they were not plenty of land they were not using. Other misconceptions using. Other misconceptions include they were cannibals include they were cannibals and monsters.and monsters.

The Indians Are Coming to The Indians Are Coming to an End an End

"Native desolation" the Natives "Native desolation" the Natives could not whether the could not whether the Europeans. Native stereotypes Europeans. Native stereotypes included the sentiment natives included the sentiment natives were unintelligent were unable were unintelligent were unable to learn. The gist was they were to learn. The gist was they were seen as having no culture, seen as having no culture, ingenuous, and immoral. ingenuous, and immoral.

The Spanish were not seen as The Spanish were not seen as Gods. Columbus spread the Gods. Columbus spread the myth of apotheosis. myth of apotheosis.

Moctezuma has been falsely Moctezuma has been falsely blamed for the loss of Mexico blamed for the loss of Mexico because he was too afraid to because he was too afraid to act.act.

Epilogue Epilogue

One of the themes Restall reiterates is that the Spanish themselves are One of the themes Restall reiterates is that the Spanish themselves are

responsible for many of the misconceptions about the conquest. Many responsible for many of the misconceptions about the conquest. Many

Historians and teachers alike took the written records at face value, did Historians and teachers alike took the written records at face value, did

not look any deeper, a conquistador would never publicize his ineptitude in not look any deeper, a conquistador would never publicize his ineptitude in

his probanza de merito. The issue is the validity of the statements were neverhis probanza de merito. The issue is the validity of the statements were never

subjected to scrutiny. Misinformation is almost no different than spreading a subjected to scrutiny. Misinformation is almost no different than spreading a

gossip which is another issue that created myths about the Natives. What gossip which is another issue that created myths about the Natives. What

inaccurate information that is in many history books is the mere result of not inaccurate information that is in many history books is the mere result of not

examining the motives of their sources and not checking their facts. There is examining the motives of their sources and not checking their facts. There is

also the issue of perception, to some myths source or creator it is the truth also the issue of perception, to some myths source or creator it is the truth

because they merely believe it to be so. Restall did what should have been because they merely believe it to be so. Restall did what should have been

over five hundred years ago researched a theory before declaring it to be the over five hundred years ago researched a theory before declaring it to be the

truth.truth.