This document summarizes Kendra Lacasella's book "Seven Myths of the Spanish Conquest" which aims to debunk common myths about the Spanish conquest of the Americas. The book examines myths such as the Spanish conquistadors being exceptional men, the invisibility of native and African peoples in the conquest, notions of Spanish superiority, and the role of disease and native disunity in enabling the conquest. By analyzing primary source documents from the time with a critical lens, the book provides a more nuanced understanding of the Spanish conquest that dispels long-held myths.

1. Theme 5 Part 2:
Seven Myths of the Spanish
Conquest
Kendra Lacasella
History of the Americas Online
November 27th, 2011

2. Acknowledgements and Introduction
• The number 7 has a • The seven myths of the
significant meaning in Conquest are all found in
American History. the Cortes legend.
• From the 16th century – The term myth is also used
Spanish ecclesiastics to in the sense “not meaning
the truth”
those of professional
historians today, the
fundamental
characteristics of that
vision survived.
– There is a better
understanding of the
Spanish Conquest.

3. Seven Myths of the Spanish Conquest
Chapter 1: “A Handful of Adventures”
• The Myth of Exceptional • Probanzas were reports
Men written by conquerors
• The discovery of America that were sent back to
has to be one of the most Spanish monarchs for the
important events in purpose of gaining some
history. sort of title.
– Columbus’ discovery of – They were biased and
America was celebrated as evolved into historical
a personal achievement. recollections.
He was placed into the
myth of exceptional men.
– His writings provided the
formation of legends and
myths about him.

4. Seven Myths of the Spanish Conquest
Chapter 3: Invisible Warriors
• The Myth of the White • Two very important things
Conquistador are: Native politics and The
• The “invisible warriors” Tlaxcalans and other
were Africans who were Nahaus and native
free and enslaved, who Mesoamericas.
accompanied Spanish • The Tlaxcalans provided an
invaders. ally for the Spanish against
– Native people are everywhere the Mexica empire.
in the Conquest alongside the
Spaniards.
– Africans were also ever
present to the conquest of
Mexico, the Spanish invasion,
and the colonization of
America.

5. Seven Myths of the Spanish Conquest
Chapter 7: Apes and Men
• The Myth of Superiority.
• The Spanish viewed the • Disease:
natives as less than – From smallpox, to measles,
humans as barbarians. and then the flu; this meant
– The Spanish superiority that Europeans and Africans
in language, literacy, arrived in the New world with
and reading “signs”. a deadly array of germs.
• The conquistadors had • Native Disunity
two great allies: – Native peoples saw
– Disease themselves as members of
– Native Disunity particular communities or
city-states
– The invaders encouraged the
peoples to blossom.

6. Seven Myths of the Spanish Conquest
Epilogue: Cuauhtemoc’s Betrayal
• It was the year 1525. • But with all these texts being
different in many ways, it is
• Cuauhtemoc’s death difficult for us to see who really
was written in four betrayed Cuauhtemoc.
– Due to the different language
different perspectives. barriers and communication
– Cortez and Gomara errors, all of this is a tragic
mess.
accounts are similar.
• All of these helped us
understand different
parts of the seven
myths of the Spanish
conquest.