During this Project we learned about Meso-America. We had to become experts on one person then decide wether or not they were guilty for destroying the Aztec Empire.
La Malinche: Innocent
La Malinche was Hernándo Cortés’ translator when the Spaniards travelled to Meso-America in the 1500’s to conquer the Aztec Empire as directed by King Charles V. La Malinche has been accused of the murder of the Aztec Empire. Firstly, without personally killing anyone, she translated the indigenous people’s language into Spanish for Cortés so he could convince select tribes to help him conquer the Aztec Empire. Also, Doña Marina, also known as La Malinche, acted as a spy for Cortés obtaining key information including knowledge which has allowed him to seize Tenochtitlán. And, Doña Marina, a slave, is thought to have a motivation to see the fall of the Aztec Empire. Lastly, without Doña Marina's help it is very possible that Cortés would not have been as successful as he was for she was a very helpful aide to the cause. Although, Doña Marina was loyal and helpful to the destruction of the Aztec Empire, she was just following orders. Therefore making her innocent.
La Malinche pleads not guilty to these charges. The only charge she would ever be guilty of doing is being loyal, intelligent, and a hard worker. She simply changed the language never the words going between Cortés and the other native tribes. Doña Marina was loyal to her job - interpreting words for Cortés. Doña Marina is intelligent, a hard worker and mature enough not to resort to destroying an entire Empire because of her mothers decision to sell her. She is loyal to her friend, Cortés, but that did not affect her job. Cortés lied to tribes so they would help him conquer the Aztec people. He used people to get his own desire for gold. He made up stories to get the tribes to talk about aspects of the Aztecs he could use to destroy the Aztec people, using them as spies without them knowing. Cortés also used Doña Marina to translate to people he couldn’t directly talk to. Therefore making him the cause of the destruction of the Aztec Empire.
Doña Marina was a slave, a person who is the property of another. She would translate between Nahuatl and Maya for Aguilar, who could interpret between Maya and Spanish. Jerónimo de Aguilar was the other translator for Cortés. Annalists do not consider Marina responsible for the success of the Spanish Conquest. The Spanish want for gold, the smallpox epidemic and, of course, the military superiority of the Spanish were major factors of the fall of the Aztecs. “She is said to have actively encouraged negotiations over bloodshed.” (Connor 8) “She didn’t take advantage of her linguistic skills to secure her own position. She was totally loyal to Cortés, despite many opportunities to betray him as the complicated history of the conquest unfolded.” (Connor 9) Doña Marina was an instrumental part of the Spanish strategy, interpreting in three different languages and providing essential information about economic organization, knowledge of native customs, forms of tribute, rules governing family relations, and so on. Doña Marina was used by Cortés as a type of spy, but she didn’t know it.
Doña Marina is in fact not guilty. She was used like a puppet, Cortés holding the strings. Cortés was the problem. He killed thousands of people and lied to thousands of others for gold. Doña Marina did not kill anyone personally, but translated the languages for Cortés as she was directed to. Doña Marina told Cortés everything she knew about the Aztecs because she had to do what her master wanted. There is no record of any plans to attack the Aztecs written or involving Doña Marina. Doña Marina was not in fact the only translator Cortés had. So without Doña Marina the Spanish Conquest would have been more difficult to accomplish but not impossible. The fall of the Aztecs is the fault of Hernándo Cortés.
La Malinche: Innocent
La Malinche was Hernándo Cortés’ translator when the Spaniards travelled to Meso-America in the 1500’s to conquer the Aztec Empire as directed by King Charles V. La Malinche has been accused of the murder of the Aztec Empire. Firstly, without personally killing anyone, she translated the indigenous people’s language into Spanish for Cortés so he could convince select tribes to help him conquer the Aztec Empire. Also, Doña Marina, also known as La Malinche, acted as a spy for Cortés obtaining key information including knowledge which has allowed him to seize Tenochtitlán. And, Doña Marina, a slave, is thought to have a motivation to see the fall of the Aztec Empire. Lastly, without Doña Marina's help it is very possible that Cortés would not have been as successful as he was for she was a very helpful aide to the cause. Although, Doña Marina was loyal and helpful to the destruction of the Aztec Empire, she was just following orders. Therefore making her innocent.
La Malinche pleads not guilty to these charges. The only charge she would ever be guilty of doing is being loyal, intelligent, and a hard worker. She simply changed the language never the words going between Cortés and the other native tribes. Doña Marina was loyal to her job - interpreting words for Cortés. Doña Marina is intelligent, a hard worker and mature enough not to resort to destroying an entire Empire because of her mothers decision to sell her. She is loyal to her friend, Cortés, but that did not affect her job. Cortés lied to tribes so they would help him conquer the Aztec people. He used people to get his own desire for gold. He made up stories to get the tribes to talk about aspects of the Aztecs he could use to destroy the Aztec people, using them as spies without them knowing. Cortés also used Doña Marina to translate to people he couldn’t directly talk to. Therefore making him the cause of the destruction of the Aztec Empire.
Doña Marina was a slave, a person who is the property of another. She would translate between Nahuatl and Maya for Aguilar, who could interpret between Maya and Spanish. Jerónimo de Aguilar was the other translator for Cortés. Annalists do not consider Marina responsible for the success of the Spanish Conquest. The Spanish want for gold, the smallpox epidemic and, of course, the military superiority of the Spanish were major factors of the fall of the Aztecs. “She is said to have actively encouraged negotiations over bloodshed.” (Connor 8) “She didn’t take advantage of her linguistic skills to secure her own position. She was totally loyal to Cortés, despite many opportunities to betray him as the complicated history of the conquest unfolded.” (Connor 9) Doña Marina was an instrumental part of the Spanish strategy, interpreting in three different languages and providing essential information about economic organization, knowledge of native customs, forms of tribute, rules governing family relations, and so on. Doña Marina was used by Cortés as a type of spy, but she didn’t know it.
Doña Marina is in fact not guilty. She was used like a puppet, Cortés holding the strings. Cortés was the problem. He killed thousands of people and lied to thousands of others for gold. Doña Marina did not kill anyone personally, but translated the languages for Cortés as she was directed to. Doña Marina told Cortés everything she knew about the Aztecs because she had to do what her master wanted. There is no record of any plans to attack the Aztecs written or involving Doña Marina. Doña Marina was not in fact the only translator Cortés had. So without Doña Marina the Spanish Conquest would have been more difficult to accomplish but not impossible. The fall of the Aztecs is the fault of Hernándo Cortés.