- Why is Cortes’ letter a main source?
- Is there any info in his letter that he did not actually observe? How do you reconcile this truth with the concept that this is a primary source? Can a document be partly primary and partly secondary? (i.e., written by someone who did not witness the occasions or experience the feeling?)
- What can you presume about Cortes’ motives in writing about “the wonders of Tenochtitlan” and the Aztecs? Why did he pick to blog about the topics he attended to in this letter? Who is planned audience, and how might that have affected the letter?
- Using Cortes’ remarks in the very first 2 paragraphs, what assumptions can you make about the wealth of the Aztec state?
- List three qualities of the Aztec religious beliefs.
What religious practice did Cortes effort to do away with? Do you believe that he could have been effective?
Cortes’ letter is a primary source because he witnessed the events he wrote about first hand.
From what I gathered through his writing Cortes did not appear to leave any vital information out as he reported every aspect of the noble city. The way he was able to give his reader, or readers, vivid descriptions of Temixtitlan from the outside in, gives us reassurance that his letter is indeed a primary source. Unfortunately a document cannot be comprised partially primary and partially secondary. Primary accounts are characterized as the direct proof of a period, with material being delivered by eyewitnesses and in this case, Cortes’ time in Temixtitlan.
Cortes chose to comprehend the significance of knowing the geology of the domain he wanted to conquer. Clearly, for early explorers knowing the terrain and being able to locate natural resources is the difference between life and death. He also chose certain topics because he is attempting to make his description audience-relatable, and more importantly, he is trying describe the degree of sophistication of this great city. According to the beginning paragraphs you immediately know that Temixtitlan is an exceptional city as Cortes stated the city had many rare and wonderful objects and that he would try to describe the wealth of what he had seen to the best of his ability. The Aztec religion was sacrificial, barbaric, and full of idol worshipping.
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