These are the things that struck me to be most important and interesting about the Aztecs. .
Montezuma was the king of the Aztecs and is always referred to in this book as great and powerful. His own people can not look him in the face and when people come to talk to him they take their shoes off and put on poorer looking outfits. Montezuma "was the best king they ever had in Mexico- (diaz, 294). .
Cortés, on the other hand, was the Captain-General of the Spaniards chosen by Diego Velazquez to lead the fleets. It is said that he was a man of cunning and that he was "not only enterprising but knew how to command and inspire fear- (diaz, 45). This proves true throughout the book, because his men and allies never desert him. Cortés also proves to be a good captain, in my opinion, because he always consults his captains before making decisions.
The Aztec's belief in the "Quetzalcoatl Myth- gave the Spaniards a bit of an advantage. It was the belief that "men would come from the direction of the sunrise to rule these lands, and that the rule and domination of Mexico would then come to an end- (diaz, 264). The Spaniards had indeed come from the direction of the sunrise. The Aztecs believed this myth so strongly that some groups gave their daughters to the Spaniards and made peace with them. This myth was very important because it greatly helped the Spaniards to make peace with the Aztecs.
If I were an Aztec person, I do not think belief in this myth would have made it easier for me to make peace with the Spaniards. They came to the Aztecs lands and tried to force them to give up their beliefs and take up theirs. Also, if they were not given enough tribute or food, they demanded it. The Spaniards did give the Aztecs beads, but they were not worth much. So the only factor that would contribute to befriending them is protection. The Aztecs fought and died for the Spaniards far more often than the Spaniards helped out the Aztecs.
