Conquistador
In an astonishing work of scholarship that reads like an adventure thriller, historian Buddy Levy records the last days of the Aztec empire and the two men at the center of an epic clash of cultures. "I and my companions suffer from a disease of the heart which can be cured only with gold." --Hernan CortesIt was a moment unique in human history, the face-to-face meeting between two men from civilizations a world apart. Only one would survive the encounter. In 1519, Hernan Cortes arrived on the shores of Mexico with a roughshod crew of adventurers and the intent to expand the Spanish empire. Along the way, this brash and roguish conquistador schemed to convert the native inhabitants to Catholicism and carry off a fortune in gold. That he saw nothing paradoxical in his intentions is one of the most remarkable--and tragic--aspects of this unforgettable story of conquest.In Tenochtitlan, the famed City of Dreams, Cortes met his Aztec counterpart, Montezuma: king, divinity, ruler of fifteen million people, and commander of the most powerful military machine in the Americas. Yet in less than two years, Cortes defeated the entire Aztec nation in one of the most astonishing military campaigns ever waged. Sometimes outnumbered in battle thousands-to-one, Cortes repeatedly beat seemingly impossible odds.
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- If you are a fan of history, Conquistador: Hernan Cortes, King Montezuma, and the Last Stand of the Aztecs by Buddy Levy is a fantastic read.
Prior to reading this book, I naively assumed Cortes waltzed into Meso America and took over, this is a well sourced historical account of everything that happened that led to the fall of Tenochtitlan.
- list of (most of) the books mentioned in this thread so far. I tried reading every comment but used chatGPT instead.
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- Conquistador by Buddy Levy is also an great source on this topic. He has other books about disastrous expeditions in the Arctic. His writing theme is basically "some guys set out on an expedition and then everything went to shit."
- Buddy Levy's book on the Aztecs and Cortez is one of my favorites of all time.
https://www.amazon.com/Conquistador-Hernan-Cortes-Montezuma-...
It would be amazing if you created an interactive history experience based on this. I'd love to be able to jump around to see where all of the historical tentpole moments happened throughout the city, such as the mass slaughter that happened while Cortez was away, and other historically significant moments.
- I highly recommend you read (or listen, the audiobook was great) to Conquistador by Buddy Levy. It might change your mind on this point. It tells the story of Cortez from the day they arrive on the shores of Mexico to when they take over the Aztec empire, where there were still many, many native peoples. The European advantages were many more than just disease... for better and worse.
- If you want something in a wonderfully engaging narrative style, there is also Conquistador by Buddy Levy.
