Seven Myths of the Spanish Conquest

Restall argues repeatedly for the importance of placing people and events within their wider historical context. Do you believe Restall overlooked any relevant historical contexts and/or processes in his own analysis? If so, what other contexts/processes do you think apply to our understanding of the Spanish Conquest?

Consider the role played by communication (and miscommunication) throughout the Spanish Conquest. What is the significance of communication, both oral and written, in understanding the Spanish Conquest and other major historical events? How can the challenges surrounding communication, and our interpretation of it, be minimized or overcome?

Choose a Spanish conquistador and analyze the story of their conquests using two or more sources. In what ways do the sources agree with, or diverge from, one another? How does the depiction of the conquistador change depending on which source you consult, and why?

Investigate a pre-Columbian Indigenous society from Mesoamerica or the Andes. Did this society and its culture survive the Conquest? Why or why not? How does their experience compare to other Indigenous cultures?

What is La Malinche’s historical significance? What impression do you get of her from Restall’s book? How does she relate to some of the book’s key themes or ideas?

How do these seven myths serve to justify European colonialism and/or European superiority? Do similar myths about our society exist in our own time and culture? Why or why not?

Explore the historical and cultural context of Spain leading up to, and during, the Spanish Conquest. What historical and/or cultural factors shaped the Conquest and the conquistadors themselves? How do these factors shape interpretations of the Conquest and its significance?

Search for remnants of Indigenous cultures in a Latin American country of your choosing. What aspects of Indigenous cultures have survived, and how? Do you agree with Restall that the idea of post-Conquest Indigenous cultural “desolation” is a myth? Why or why not?