The History of the Conquest of New Spain by Bernal Diaz del Castillo by Davíd Carrasco (PDF)

Description

The History of the Conquest of New Spain by Bernal Diaz del Castillo, a new abridgement of Diaz del Castillo’s classic Historia verdadera de la conquista de Nueva España, offers a unique contribution to our understanding of the political and religious forces that drove the great cultural encounter between Spain and the Americas known as the “conquest of Mexico.” Besides containing important passages, scenes, and events excluded from other abridgements, this edition includes eight useful interpretive essays that address indigenous religions and cultural practices, sexuality during the early colonial period, the roles of women in indigenous cultures, and analysis of the political and economic purposes behind Diaz del Castillo’s narrative. A series of maps illuminate the routes of the conquistadors, the organization of indigenous settlements, the struggle for the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan, as well as the disastrous Spanish journey to Honduras. The information compiled for this volume offers increased accessibility to the original text, places it in a wider social and narrative context, and encourages further learning, research, and understanding.ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTORSDavíd Carrasco is Neil L. Rudenstine Professor of the Study of Latin America with a joint appointment in the Department of Anthropology and the Divinity School at Harvard University. He was recently awarded the Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle.ACCLAIM”…a welcome addition as a teaching manual and scholarly resource, providing up-to-date and succinct contributions on Aztec and Spanish cultures to supplement Bernal Díaz’s classic text.” — Journal of World History”…a welcome addition to the published primary sources on colonial history.” — The Catholic Historical Review”The combination of Díaz del Castillo’s fluid narrative and the insightful essays makes for a fascinating read and not only a greater understanding of history, but also a glimpse of how individual human concerns affect the way stories are told.” — ForeWord Magazine”This volume is an important contribution to the growing body of post-modern literature focusing on Spanish colonialism.” — SMRC Revista

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐If you want to relive what really happened when Cortes first set foot on the shores of what is now Mexico, please read this. It is almost as if you are sitting there listening to a friend tell a story about a trip that they had and all that they saw and did. The fact that David Carrasco really brought back all the words that were originally left out, and his added information accompanying the story, certainly added to the perspective of the history of this time in Mexico.Extremely colorful, revealing, and sometimes brutal, Bernard Diaz del Castillo describes everything from his memory, years later. He says in the beginning that he left this legacy for his children because he never got the gold that this expedition had promised him! How much luckier are we that he did this instead. A wonderful story of what one man saw accompanying Cortes, and his comparisons and perspective on what he saw and did are priceless! I loved it when he first met Montezuma, sitting on his throne, and of all things, Bernard said he was eating a tortilla!!!! Wish every American traveling to Mexico would read this first!!!!!

⭐This is an eyewitness account by a soldier who participated in all the major expeditions of the conquest of Old Mexico (now called the Aztec empire) by conquistadors and also a brief account of the conquest of the Mayan lands of Guatemala. The major figure of the first conquest is Hernan Cortes and of the second, Pedro de Alvorado. This edition provides essential, clear, and extremely important maps, as well as a number of short essays to contextualize the participants and the culture of the Mexica Indians or, as we now call them, Aztecs. For example, we learn of La Malinche, the Aztec woman who served as both the mistress and interpreter of Cortes at every stage of the invasion; other essays cover sexuality in the conquest and the cultural context of human sacrifice. It is a riveting story, even though, or perhaps because, the author is a simple man: a good soldier who provides an objective chronicle of the episodes of this monumental conquest. Del Castillo’s character study of Montezuma, including the account of his death, is masterful and infinitely sad. Both sides, from their own viewpoint, routinely practiced savage cruelty and at the same time were capable of courage, magnanimity, and refinement. This account — one of the the greatest adventures of all time — filled me with awe, pity, and dread.

⭐I’m enchanted by this amazing book, has wonderful detail and I’m loving it! thank you

⭐Unbelievable read! I had no idea such an articulate record existed of this conquest. So revealing to read about two cultures having first contacts and the clash of cultures and traditions. So many interesting comparisons -the nature of humanity.

⭐Great translation with excellent essays included

⭐YESSS. This book came very quickly just on time for when i needed it! It was in perfect condition. Thank you so much! 10/10 recommend

⭐This edition/translation is infinitely better and more engaging for undergraduates than the traditional Penguin version. I teach it regularly for large lectures at a major public university. The interpretive essays at the back are hugely helpful.

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