This article was written by Alfonso X, who reigned from 1252-1284, to discuss the history of Spain and more specifically the history of his kingdom, Castile. I believe that this article falls under the category of a chronicle. This chronicle discusses the history of Seville leading up to the Christian Conquest of Seville in 1248, which took place during the reign of Alfonso’s father, Fernando III (1217-1252). The piece is written with a lot of pride with the goal of celebrating the history of his kingdom. The document is broken up into three chapters as follows; First, The Chapter on the Magnificence and the Wealth of the Army at Seville, second, The Chapter on How Long Seville Was Besieged, and on the Fine Appearance of Its Splendors, and …show more content…
He conquered the old Umayyad capital of Cordoba in 1236, Huelva in 1238, as well as many other cities. He finally conquered Seville, which he believed to be the greatest of the Andalusian cities, in 1248 after 16 months of siege. In 1252 after the death of Fernando III, Alfonso X assumed the throne. During Alfonso X’s reign, Seville remained one of the capitals of the kingdom. Alfonso continued the offensive against the Muslims and conquered Jerez and Cadiz. Linguistic Terms of the Documents Below is a list of all the important terms and their definitions in the historical context and how their meanings may have changed today. Seigniorial: A man of rank, especially a feudal lord. Can also be used as a form of address. Opulence: A great abundance of wealth or affluence. Replete: An abundance of something Hinterland: Land that is located beyond metropolitan centers. Today we might use the term backcountry. Besieged: If something is besieged it is surrounded by hostile forces. Vassals: A person granted the use of land in return for military service or homage. Similar to the terms “servant” or …show more content…
In Alfonso X’s chronicle, Primera cronica general de Espana he wrote about how noble the city of Seville was. He keeps referring to it as “the noble city of Seville” and even says “The blessed King Ferdinand had the noble city of Seville besieged for sixteen months, and he did not do so for any other reason than to strive hard for it, for it was noble”. In his writing, Alfonso X really elicits this sense of pride that he has for his city. When reading the poem, Lament for the Fall of Seville, it was obvious that the Muslims also had a great feeling of pride for the city of Seville and other parts of al-Andalus when it was under their control. In the poem, the author alludes to how great the city was before the Christians took over. He uses powerful quotes such as “Where is Seville and the pleasures it contains, as well as its sweet river overflowing and brimming full?” and “O, who will redress the humiliation of a people who were once powerful, a people whose condition injustice and tyrants have changed?”. It is clear that the author is trying to strike anger in the Muslim people and persuade them to take back their land that is the great city of
Cortes letter had the sound of someone attempting to explain or justify their actions. This is reasonable since we know that he had disobeyed orders. He wrote, “Having passed six days, then, in the great city of Tenochtitlan, invincible Prince, and having seen something of its marvels, though little in comparison with what there was to be seen and examined, I considered it essential both from my observation of the city and the rest of the land that its ruler should be in my power and no longer entirely free; to the end that he might in nowise change his will and intent to serve your Majesty, more especially as we Spaniards are somewhat intolerable and stiff-necked, and should he get across with us he would be powerful enough to do us great damage, even to blot out all memory of us here in the land; and in the second place, could I once get him in my power all the other provinces subject to him would come more promptly to the knowledge and service of your Majesty, as indeed afterward happened” (Cortes, 1929). Cortes was explaining his reasoning, and attempting to make it appear that he did the right thing. Also, the Florentine Codex’s tone was angry and spiteful. Then again, that is understandable seeing as how they had just lost their home. The codex said, “And the Spaniards walked everywhere; they went everywhere taking to pieces the hiding places, storehouses, storage places. They took all, all that they
One of the most interesting aspects of Diaz’s narrative is towards the end when Cortés broaches the subject of Christianity with Montezuma. Conversion and missionary work was one of the most important and lasting goals of the conquistadors and other contemporary explorers, they were charged with this duty by the rulers who sent t...
The history based on primary source and secondary source, and the history has to have both primary source and secondary source because it has real facts and analyzes. Examples of Primary Sources are speeches, news, photographs..,etc., and examples of secondary sources interpreted topics. This article is primary source essay, and Primary sources are original documents. Primary sources for this article are Christopher Columbus’s Letter,1493 and Fray Bernardino de Sahagun Relates an Aztec Chronicler’s Account of the Spanish Conquest of the Aztecs,1519.
His main accomplishment was the Spanish Conquest of Mexico. With about 600 men and 16 horses, Hernan Cortes landed on the Mexican coast in search of gold. From local inhabitants, he heard of a great and he had heard of a great and wealthy civilization farther inland. This civilization is what we call now the Aztec empire. He and his troops marched onward towards Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital.
A ‘golden age’ can be interpreted in many ways; it can be a time of
During the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church was the dominant force in Western civilization. As the Dark Ages came to a close, the monarchies of Europe began to consolidate power; providing an alternative power base. With the Protestant Reformation came another blow to the influence of the Church. Spain, the forerunner in the Age of Discovery, was a fervently Catholic country. During the 16th century, the monarchy combined the forces of "cross and crown" in its imperial policy; much to the dismay and ultimate destruction of the indigenous peoples of the New World. Through an examination of Aztec polytheism and the Catholicism of the conquistadors, comes the central role of religion in the successful conquest of New Spain.
Before Columbus landed in the West Indies in 1492, The Spanish Inquisition made it known to anyone within Spain’s domain of influence that if a person was not of the Catholic religion, they were to be punished severely and sometimes even fatally. This influence would undoubtedly be brought over to the Americas a century later, as the colonization of the New World would begin by then. While it was very essential for the Spanish (as well as the Portuguese) to improve their economy by using the resources they found in Latin America, it seemed to a number of them as if that was the only reason for being there, or the main reason at the very least. During the Spanish Inquisition and from that point after, it was the Pope’s main goal, to convert everyone to Roman Catholicism; an opportune moment arrived as the Americas were found, along with the Natives who resided there who were waiting to be converted.
Every schoolchild knows that “In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue.” This voyage was the gateway to an age of exploration, triumph, and ruin. Columbus’s voyage introduced the world to a new land and many opportunities. Powerful countries immediately scrambled to grab as much of it for themselves as they could. Two of the most powerful ones were England and Spain. Both wanted a piece of the new land, a way to grow economically or to escape persecution. Even though they had similar goals in mind, England and Spain had vastly different strategies.
1066: The Year of the Conquest, written by David Howarth, tells of one of the most important dates in the history of England. In 1066, William the Conqueror and William of Orange fought the historical Battle of Hastings. The outcome of this battle lead to many changes to the English people. The Norman people became assimilated into the English way of life. Howarth proceeds to tell the tale of the Battle of Hastings through the eyes on a common Englishman.
Cortes’ arrival in Veracruz defined a new stage of development in the conquest of indigenous peoples living in Mexico, but more importantly, as a pathway to attack and destroy the Aztec empire in the interior regions. The conquistador mentality had become a powerful statement of the military might of the Spanish Empire during the early 1500s, which galvanized Cortes and his military to successfully begin negotiations with the Aztecs to make alliances against local enemies in the area. Cortes’ arrival in Veracruz provided a window of opportunity to begin negotiating and communicating with Aztec representatives. When first landing in Veracruz, Cortes was able to settle the coastal city of Veracruz, which became the port of entry into Mexico.
The first major part of the ceremony was the Oath of Fealty in which the vassal would wear allegiance to the king. ( "Vassals." Vassals.) After which the Investiture would begin the king would give the vassal a fief and then touch the vassal’s hand and announce his acceptance of the vassal. ( "Vassals." Vassals.) This ceremony sealed the vassal placed in the king corner. The vassal’s fief was the land he was given by the king. However, the vassal was not the one on the land.
The Spanish Armada was a fleet assembled and dispatched by King Phillip II of Spain in attempt to invade England in 1588. His attempt was unsuccessful. Queen Elizabeth I of England held the defeat of the armada as one of her greatest achievements, assisting the decline of the Spanish Empire. The armada had a mission of both political and religious aims. King Phillip, the leader of the Roman Catholic Spain, was not able to stop a revolt in of his Protestant subjects in the Netherlands, a revolt that began in 1566, aided by Protestant England. By 1586, Phillip had decided that he could not defeat the Dutch until he had defeated England first. Long time religious rivalry between Spain and England was hoped to be resolved by King Phillip in the dethroning of Queen Elizabeth, reconverting England to Catholicism. The plan for conquering had begun. This plan consisted of the coordination of a fleet to sail from Spain and an army from the Netherlands to create a simultaneous invasion of England. His force of 130 ships and more than 30,000 men was to be led by Alonso Peréz Guzmán, duke of Medina- Sidonia. England was aware of the Spanish plans, attacking it at Cádiz, Spain in 1587, succeeding in delaying it for a year. By July of 1588, the armada was spotted off the coast of England on July 29. Lord Charles Howard intercepted it with a larger English fleet near Plymouth, and for the next week made small attacks on the Spanish in battles off of Plymouth, Portland Bill, and the Isle of Wight. Unable to break the Spanish Armada, they waited for their chance at a big blow. The opportunity finally arrived when the armada anchored near Calais, France, hoping to join troops scheduled to sail from the Netherlands. Ingeniously, Howard ordered ships set on fire to be sent against the armada, producing a panic that broke the Spanish formation. In the ensuing battle of Gravelines, on August 8, the Spanish were defeated by England and the armada sailed home with remaining ships that were heavily damaged to Spain; 67 of the original 130 ships reached Spain, most in poor condition.
The Conquest of New Spain Cortés came not to the New World to conquer by force, but by manipulation. Bernal Daz del Castillo, in the "Conquest of New Spain," describes how Cortés and his soldiers manipulated the Aztec people and their king Montezuma from the time they traveled from Iztapalaopa to the time when Montezuma took Cortés to the top of the great Cue and showed him the whole of Mexico and its countryside, and the three causeways which led into Mexico. Castillo's purpose for recording the mission was to keep an account of the wealth of Montezuma and Mexico, the traditions, and the economic potential that could benefit Cortés' upcoming conquest. However, through these recordings, we are able to see and understand Cortés' strategy in making Mexico "New Spain." He came as a wolf in sheep's clothing and manipulated Montezuma through his apparent innocence.
by a small English army. In 1350 Edward led an English fleet against the spanish from
Armesto, Felipe. The Spanish Armada: The Experince of War in 1588. 1. 1. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 1988. 268-01. Print.