1) Restall argues that the Spanish conquest success was not due to technological or cultural superiority of the Spanish. 2) While the Spanish had some advantages like guns, horses, and steel, these were in short supply and indigenous groups were not cowed by this technology. 3) The main factors in the Spanish victory were the devastating effects of diseases from Europe that indigenous groups had no resistance to, and disunity among indigenous groups with some allying with the Spanish.

1. SEVEN MYTHS OF THE SPANISH
CONQUEST
***The Myth Of Superiority***
By
Matthew McHolland
History 140
Professor Arguello

2. SEVEN MYTHS OF THE SPANISH
CONQUEST
***The Myth of Superiority***
According to the Matthew Restall, the author of “the Seven Myths of the
Spanish Conquest,” the success of the Spanish conquest was due to the either
the technological superiority of the Spaniards or a kind of “inherent cultural
superiority.” As a result, the Spanish victory was inevitable. In other words,
the reason why the Spaniards were able to defeat all the natives was because
Europe was clearly an advanced country.

3. SEVEN MYTHS OF THE SPANISH
CONQUEST
***The Myth of Superiority***
Restall claims that technology advances such handguns,
cannons, steel armor, horses and dogs weren’t
consequences in the actual fighting since they were are
in short supply and the Aztecs were not daunted by this
new technology for long .

4. SEVEN MYTHS OF THE SPANISH
CONQUEST
***The Myth of Superiority***
Also, Restall refutes the idea that the Indian’s lack of alphabetic writing
constituted a major drawback. He also refutes the idea that Indians
were childlike. He honestly believes that the natives were not cowards at
all. Even though the Spaniards had technological support, (guns,
cannons etc.) this event did not impede the natives from fighting. He
argues that several authors have depicted Indians as weak, however,
that was not the case. The natives used everything to defend
themselves.

5. SEVEN MYTHS OF THE SPANISH
CONQUEST
***The Myth of Superiority***
The Factor behind the Conquistadores were mostly the devastating
effect of European diseases for which the Indians had no resistance,
the disunity between indigenous groups some of which allied with the
Spaniards early, the technological advances of the steel sword, and
native battle practices that were not upheld by the Spaniards.

6. SEVEN MYTHS OF THE SPANISH
CONQUEST
***The Myth of Superiority*** Conclusion: I am so glad that I had the
opportunity to learn more about the myth of superiority because I was always
intrigued to learn more about what really happened during those times. I always
wondered why the Indians were defeated. Thanks to this chapter, I now have a
better understanding of what really occurred. I honestly agree with the author in
many ways. For instance, I do believe that the major problem that prevented the
natives from succeeding were all the diseases from Europe. And I also believe that
the Spaniards consider themselves to be of a much higher race because they were
from an already civilized world.. In other words, they had powerful weapons to
defeat natives. Overall, it was a great chapter and I am glad that I got read it!