Aztecs Weapons

 

 

Well, Imagine you are an Spanish soldier. As any of the guys of those times you started in the army perhaps when you were just 12th years old. You have killed and seing people killed all over Europe already, and have stand all the brutalities you could expect so far. However, the worst was to come.

 

You are part of a troop controlled by some very couragious but unbelievable though guy, that will hung you at the least fault. A man accustumed not only to kill but also to mutilate his enemies, like it was a common practise those times.

 

You enter a territory where natives were quite sofisticated but that practised ritual human sacrifices in a daily basis. A people so cruel that the rest of the natives of the region were afraid of them, an preffer to ally to you.

 

You has to stand the most unbelievable pain in the long walks (most Spaniards walk, horses were few) carrying a pike at the shoulder. You were constantly attacked and several of your friend already died.

 

And you keep seeing brutality of your own and at the enemy side as well. Sometimes your allies are worst than your own people!

 

In short, Spaniards ended completely shocked with the adventure. It shows in the numerous works they wrote after the conquest. They always described the Aztec empire like Hell. And in certain sense they were saying the truth. It is amazing that the priest believe they could change that mentality and people, and it is amazing as well that the Mexican people embraced Christianity so willingly.

 

The life of the Conquistadors and early settlers was very though. It was hell on earth. Even worst, some generations later the descendents of those Spaniards were ashame of the Conquistadors!

 

Finally, most of the Conquistadors died brutally. Some were killed by their own people. Other, like Valdivia, died in the field and ended cannibilized.

 

When the wars were over, you have no reason to go back to Europe. Got married with a Native woman and tried to forget the past. You never manage to do it.

 

It was a human tragedy for both sides. That was the conquist.

 

Pinguin