The Study of History: 3-5 pages Primary Sources and Changing Interpretations

The Study of History: 3-5 pages Primary Sources and Changing Interpretations
25 points
Sources
Books
Posted below in this Module of the course Canvas site
Seven Myths of the Spanish Conquest, by Matthew Restall.
The Jesuit Relations, edited by Alan Greer.
The complete texts of these books are available in this module in PDF format. Paper copies of the books are also available from the Instructor Reserve section of the Palomar College Library.
Films
Conquistadors. 4 episodes. PBS web site.
Select and comment on at least two films from this series.
Fall of the Aztecs (Cortes)
Conquest of the Incas (Pizarro)
Search for El Dorado (Orellana)
All the World is Human (Cabeza de Vaca)
The Spanish conquest of the Americas in the 16th century was one of the most important events in history. Spanish expeditions had to endure the most unbelievable hardships to open up the lands of the New World. Few stories, if any, in history match these for the sheer drama, endurance and distance covered.
In CONQUISTADORS (PBS web site), Michael Wood travels in the footsteps of some of the greatest of the Spanish adventurers from Amazonia to Lake Titicaca, and from the deserts of North Mexico to the heights of Machu Picchu. he experiences first hand the reality of epic journeys, such as those made by Hernan Cortes and Francisco and Gonzalo Pizarro and explores the turbulent and terrifying events surrounding the Spanish conquest of the Aztec and Inca empires, as well as Orellana”s discovery of the Amazon and Cabeza de Vaca”s extraordinary journey across America to the Pacific.
Michael Wood brings history alive as he relates this story of conquest, heroism and greed and shows up how the Conquistadors have changed the way that we see the world,in terms of history and civilization, justice and human rights.
Assignment
Interpretations of the human past are constantly changing, as new sources are made available – such as demonstrated in the film Catastrophe – and old biases are revised. New generations of historians bring with them new points of view and/or biases.
This exercise introduces you to examples of these processes of early cultural observation from the past (Jesuit Relations) and changing interpretations of the past (Seven Myths of the Spanish Conquest).
Prepare a report of four to five pages, typed and double-spaced, that summarizes important themes from these sources: two texts – one “primary” source and one “secondary” source – and two films.
Professor Arguello will comment on this assignment in the Canvas Messages area.
Seven Myths of the Spanish Conquest
Historians have been reevaluating the past, that is, rewriting what others have said before them, since the time of a Greek historian named Herodotus (AKA “Father of Lies” by those Greeks who disagreed with him).
In the case of one of the most commented on events of modern history, the Spanish Conquest of the Aztec and Inca empires, European and American historians have been contesting how and why it happened since Hernan Cortes sent a report to the Spanish king, Charles I, celebrating his own accomplishments. That interpretation would soon be challenged by other participants in the conquest of Mexico, and by dozens of historians since then.
So we have multiple points of view (POV) of this event. This latest revision by Professor Matthew Restall is different because it includes documentation from native allies of the Spanish that have often been excluded from the story. This new POV changes our understanding of this age of contact and conquest, as well as of the very nature of the “Spanish” empire.
As another historian, Henry Kamen, has noted recently in his study of the Spanish empire, the “Spanish” made up probably no more than 10-15 percent of the population, and leadership of, the empire that stretched from the coast of North Africa to the Philippines. Africans, Asians, and Native Americans were active participants in this empire; the Spanish could not have maintained the empire without them, just as the British could never have maintained their empire in Asia and Africa, especially India, without the collaboration of local elites and bureaucrats.
Required Reading
Introduction, “The Lost World of Bernal Diaz”, pp. xiii- xix.
Chapter 1. “A Handful of Adventurers: The Myth of Exceptional Men”.
Chapter 3. “Invisible Warriors: The Myth of the White Conquistador”.
Epilogue, “Cuauhtémoc’s Betrayal”, pp. 147 – 157.
Selections
Select one of the remaining chapters to summarize in your report:
Chapter 2. “Neither Paid Nor Forced: The Myth of the King’s Army”.
Chapter 4. “Under the Lordship of the King: The Myth of Completion”.
Chapter 5. “The Lost Words of La Malinche: The Myth of (Mis)Communication”.
Chapter 6. “The Indians Are Coming to an End: The Myth of Native Desolation”.
Chapter 7. “Apes and Men: The Myth of Superiority”.
Conquistadors (Films)
Comment on the observations presented by the English narrator Michael Wood on at least 2 of the films from this series.
Consult the companion PBS web site for additional information related to the events described in the films.
While Mr. Wood presents a more traditional interpretation of the Conquest, he is one of the finest historical documentary makers of our time, and in this case not biased against Spanish history as most of his fellow English (and Anglo-American) writers and historians are.
As always, the greatest strength of Wood’s documentaries are:
His research into the topic
His familiarity with the environment in which events took place. He takes you to the place where history happened, in his studies of ancient Troy, Alexander the Great, Shakespeare, or India.
Watch as many of his films as you can. Most are on Netflix, Amazon Prime, or You Tube.
The Jesuit Relations
The activities of the Jesuit religious order in New France was essential to the French presence in North America during the first century of colonization, as the French monarchy was financially unable to support colonization at this time. The Jesuits raised funds through the reports on their activities among the native peoples of Canada.
The Introduction to this documentary collection explains the significance of these reports as what historians refer to a “primary sources” on this historical process. These sources have a definite bias (as all historical sources do), but they remain a valuable source of information of this historical process and these Canadian societies.
Required Reading
Introduction (pp. 1-19) to The Jesuit Relations
Select 2 chapters from the 8 chapters of documentary readings in the text The Jesuit Relations.
You should discuss the following in your report:
The general theme for each selection of documents.
What we learn of the lives of the aboriginal peoples of Canada from these sources.
According to the editor of this collection, why are these sources important for historians and students of history today?

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