OPPOSITE This 16th-century illustration shows the fateful meeting between Spanish explorers (seated with headdress) and Aztec people.
Old and New World
Old World and New World were terms once used by Europeans who were exploring the world. The Old World refers to Europe. The New World refers to North and South America—an area of the world that was new to Europeans.
THERE ARE TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY, AND THE CONFLICT between the Aztecs and the Spanish is no different. From the Aztec viewpoint, the Spanish were brutal invaders who showed no respect for their leaders, their religion, and their customs. The Aztecs could not understand the Spanish greed for gold and silver. They thought the Spanish were dirty, since bathing was not popular among Europeans at the time.
From the Spanish point of view, the Aztecs were uncivilized and unchristian. They sacrificed human beings and worshipped false gods. The Spanish believed they worshipped the only true god, Jesus Christ, and wanted to convert the Aztecs to their faith. The gold, silver, and other precious items they took were, they believed, their reward for doing this good work.
The Spanish who came to the New World were known as conquistadors, the Spanish word for “conquerors.” They were soldiers and adventurers seeking glory and wealth, while also providing a service for their king. The Spanish king hoped to spread the Roman Catholic faith, gain new lands, and acquire wealth.
The Spanish interest in the Valley of Mexico began with a conquistador named Juan de Grijalva (ca. 1489-1527), who arrived in Cuba in 1511. In April 1518, Grijalva set sail from Cuba, heading west. He traveled the coast of Mexico, stopping at small villages (the people he met were not Aztecs). The Spanish received gifts, which they brought back to Diego Velasquez (ca. 1465-1522), the governor of Cuba. The gifts amounted to a small treasure: about $4,000 worth of gold and more
Velasquez was pleased with the gifts and anxious to send representatives to the Yucatan Peninsula, the part of southeastern Mexico that juts out into the Gulf Mexico. (Today the region includes Belize and part of Guatemala.) This area was inhabited by the Maya people.
Tarnished Copper
Copper was unknown in Spain at that time. So the Spanish had no idea what metal their axe gifts were made of. Since copper shines a bright reddish brown when it is polished, they thought perhaps they had been given low-grade gold. When they arrived back in Cuba, the copper had tarnished, turning first dark brown and then green. The Spanish felt they had been cheated.
Malintzin's Name
Historians do not know what Malintzin's name was before she met Cortes. The Spanish baptized her as a Roman Catholic and gave her the name Marina. The Nahuatl language does not have an R sound, so the local people called her Malina. The tzin was later added to her name as a sign of honor.
The governor wanted to see exactly how much wealth he could collect for the Spanish king, Charles V (1500-1558). The king received 20 percent (known as the “royal fifth”) of any riches found in the New World. But the governor, his representatives, and any men taking part in an expedition received a share of the remaining 80 percent. The possibility of becoming rich encouraged men to take part in dangerous expeditions.
World History
