The Aztecs were bloody murdering bastards. So much that the other Indian tribes joined the Spanish to defeat the Aztecs.
Exactly. Mel Gibson’s “Apocalypto” would make a good palate cleanser after watching this woke anti-colonialist Batman thing.
Absolutely accurate.
I studied archaeology until I realized that you cannot pay a mortgage, or any other bill, with a "career" on archaeology.
Two of my favorite books.
The Hummingbird & The Hawk
The Discovery & The Conquest Of Mexico by Bernal Diaz Del Castillo. Castillo was with Cortez from the beginning, and survived it all. When he was very old, and blind, he was very poor. The only thing he could leave his family was his incredible story and journey.
The Hummingbird & The Hawk goes into the the years before Cortez, and then the arrival of Cortez. When Cortez landed, Moctezuma II was the ruler. Beginning with Moctezuma I, there was a general behind the scenes, Tlacaelel. He was the architect of much of the Aztec culture, especially human sacrifice, removing hearts while still alive, and all the other loveliness.
The Tlaxcalans were a tribe that hated the Aztecs. The Aztecs conquered everyone, but they had a "special" relationship with the Tlaxcalans. Since the Tlaxcalans were know as fierce fighters, the Aztecs would "practice" war on the Tlaxcalans to keep the Aztec troops well trained. When Cortez encountered the Tlaxcalans, they were eager to join forces against their tormentors.
PS - the above two books are great reads, no matter what kind of reading you prefer.
Correct.