Customer Reviews

The Broken Spears: The Aztec Account of the Conquest of Mexico

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I enjoyed reading the Aztec account of the colonization of Colonial Mexico. The book is a translation of Nahuatl writings. See- the Spanish provided an alphabet which the Aztecs did not have prior to Spanish arrival and then the Aztecs applied the alphabet to their native Nahuatl language and began writing. The only concern a reader should have is accuracy- the documents of the account were written 10 years and more after the fact. A tip when reading: start with Chapter 14 which summarizes all the events, then read Chapters 1 - 13 which elaborate on events in detail, and finally conclude with chapters 15 - 16. I highly recommend this book for anyone studying Colonial Mexico History or persons who want to know more about Aztecs and their culture.

Miguel Leon-Portillo's collection of Nahua accounts of the Spanish conquest affords the reader a unique opportunity to experience the conquest through the mind of the Amerindian. The book records the human response of the Nahuatl speaking peoples of central Mexico to the strange and terrifying events that ultimately destroyed their city and their way of life. Through songs, pictures, and oral tradition, the plight of the people was preserved, and some of the more powerful and eloquent of these are represented in "The Broken Spears."

Do not expect an objective historical account of the conquest from this book. That is not the intention, as clearly stated by Leon-Portillo in his introduction. Rather, it is a glimpse into how the natives responded to and came to terms with events that were so strange and frightening to them that they bordered on the apocalyptic. What the reader gains, then, is an eloquent testimony to the passion and intellect of the native people of central Mexico who were so often, in many Spanish accounts, reduced to barbaric, blood-thirsty savages with little capacity for human sympathy.

Not a review of this book.
Just to emphasized that no one who has read Bernal Diaz del Castillo's "Conquest of Mexico" would hold to any of the misconceptions noted in doomsdayer520's first paragraph. Bernal Diaz's famous memoir shows that he was honest and clear-eyed, and perpetually open to the humanity of the Aztecs and aware of, even the victim of, the venality of his countrymen.

This account uses narratives written by Aztecs and other native american groups around Mexico (the Aztec capital city) conquered by Cortes in the 1500s, presenting a perspective unknown to most.

I grew up in Mexico City surrounded by evidence of the Aztecs as well as the Spanish, without a clear understanding of what happened to create the cultural mixture I saw there. As an adult, I read portions of a number of accounts of the conquest of Mexico, all based on Spanish sources.

When you read these things, you're struck with amazement that they could happen and you wonder how much was only the Spanish interpretation of what they were told. Did the Aztecs really think the Spaniards were gods? Did Cortes and his men really just march into Mexico City as guests and then take Moctezuma captive? What were each of the groups thinking in this clash of opposing cultures?

The Spanish, (for religious reasons?), wiped out most Aztec records, which were written in picture form. Their general propaganda treated Cortes as a hero. But when I was growing up, there was a strong movement towards painting Cortes as a weak, crippled, diseased man -- a disgusting figure. There are murals that portray him this way. And in the middle of the city, the rediscovered Templo Mayor stands mostly underwater, with roughly 8 feet protruding, as a silent testimony to the culture wiped out in the conquest. I was left with the question, "What happened?"

I was fascinated and moved as I read "Broken Spears". They spoke of terrible omens... they were expecting tragedy. They were aware of the Spanish ships the moment they landed and the Aztec emperor sent envoys to watch them, and later to communicate with them. The unfolding story may sound stark and boring to those who haven't studied the conquest of Mexico, but to me it filled in a vital missing piece.

It doesn't matter whether these stories are eye witness accounts or not because they paint the Aztec impression of the conquest vividly. They didn't understand the revulsion and horror the Spaniards must have felt at their human sacrifices, but they were appalled at the senseless slaughter Cortes's men and allies engaged in.

This is not a book for a weak stomach. Some of the descriptions are graphic. Some of the pictures show chopped off limbs and heads.

It's not a masterpiece of excellent writing, either. That is not what makes this book valuable. It invites you into the heart of the Aztecs before their pride was broken and their people subjugated.

This is an excellent book as many of Leon-Portilla. I only recommend that in the catalog the title in the original language must be shown, so the potential buyer know. If not you can buy a book you already have as happened to me.

The Broken Spears is a heartbreaking and fascinating account of the clash between the Aztec Empire and the Spanish conquistador, Cortes. Each chapter is prefaced with introductory remarks and guidance and then, through a mixture of illustrations and quotations taken from the codices, the primary sources come to life. The accounts of Spanish cruelty and Aztec bewilderment achieve an emotional resonance, making the moments described sing. Anyone interested in history told from the point of view of the vanquished will find this invaluable.

This is the Aztecs account of the conquest of Mexico. Amazing!Enlighting! I love it! A very useful book if you are looking to find what I think was the truth in History of Mexico. This is one of very few that will tell you the story from the conquered.

A wonderful compilation of accounts on the conquest of Mexico. This work has been able to bring together the limited sources of non-European accounts of the conquest, therefore aiding to fill in the holes of such an infamous encounter. I would highly recommend this for anyone interested in ancient Mexican history, Aztec history, or history in general.

If you've been looking for a different insight into Mexico's Conquest than the Spanish telling, then this is your book. Highly recommended for everyone for the reason that it is written on the accounts of the vanquished. It will broaden your understanding and motivate you to keep going.

A very good introductory book to the Conquest of Latin America. Though I do have to say, use only as an introduction. It is not a very good book to cite for any research. A very good example of showing both sides of the story; Spanish vs. Native.