For hundreds of years, the history of the conquest of Mexico and the defeat of the Aztecs has been told in the words of the Spanish victors. Miguel León-Portilla has long been at the forefront of expanding that history to include the voices of indigenous peoples. In this new and updated edition of his classic The Broken Spears, León-Portilla has included accounts from native Aztec descendants across the centuries. These texts bear witness to the extraordinary vitality of an oral tradition that preserves the viewpoints of the vanquished instead of the victors. León-Portilla’s new Postscript reflects upon the critical importance of these unexpected historical accounts.

“A moving and powerful account, a unique reading experience which should not be missed by any reader interested in history.”–Los Angeles Times
Miguel León-Portilla, renowned historian and anthropologist, is best known for his work regarding Nahuatl history. His works include The Broken Spears: The Aztec Account of the Conquest of MexicoNative Meso-American Spirituality; and In the Language of Kings: An Anthology of Mesoamerican Literature—Pre-Columbian to the Present. León-Portilla studied at Loyola University and National Autonomous University. View titles by Miguel Leon-Portilla
Illustrations
 
Translator’s Note
 
Foreword
 
Introduction
 
Chapter One Omens Foretelling the Arrival of the Spaniards
 
Chapter Two First Reports of the Spaniards’ Arrival
 
Chapter Three The Messengers’ Journeys
 
Chapter Four Motecuhzoma’s Terror and Apathy
 
Chapter Five The Spaniards March on Tlaxcala and Cholula
 
Chapter Six The Gifts of Gold: The God Tezcatlipoca Appears
 
Chapter Seven The Spaniards Are Welcomed in Tezcoco
 
Chapter Eight The Spaniards Arrive in Tenochtitlan
 
Chapter Nine The Massacre in the Main Temple during the Fiesta of Toxcatl
 
Chapter Ten The Night of Sorrows
 
Chapter Eleven The Siege of Tenochtitlan
 
Chapter Twelve Spanish Raids into the Besieged City
 
Chapter Thirteen The Surrender of Tenochtitlan
 
Chapter Fourteen The Story of the Conquest as Told by the Anonymous Authors of Tlatelolco
 
Chapter Fifteen Elegies on the Fall of the City
 
Chapter Sixteen Aftermath
 
Appendix
Postscript
Selected Bibliography
Index 
A moving and powerful account, a unique reading experience which should not be missed by any reader interested in history.—Los Angeles Times

About

For hundreds of years, the history of the conquest of Mexico and the defeat of the Aztecs has been told in the words of the Spanish victors. Miguel León-Portilla has long been at the forefront of expanding that history to include the voices of indigenous peoples. In this new and updated edition of his classic The Broken Spears, León-Portilla has included accounts from native Aztec descendants across the centuries. These texts bear witness to the extraordinary vitality of an oral tradition that preserves the viewpoints of the vanquished instead of the victors. León-Portilla’s new Postscript reflects upon the critical importance of these unexpected historical accounts.

“A moving and powerful account, a unique reading experience which should not be missed by any reader interested in history.”–Los Angeles Times

Author

Miguel León-Portilla, renowned historian and anthropologist, is best known for his work regarding Nahuatl history. His works include The Broken Spears: The Aztec Account of the Conquest of MexicoNative Meso-American Spirituality; and In the Language of Kings: An Anthology of Mesoamerican Literature—Pre-Columbian to the Present. León-Portilla studied at Loyola University and National Autonomous University. View titles by Miguel Leon-Portilla

Table of Contents

Illustrations
 
Translator’s Note
 
Foreword
 
Introduction
 
Chapter One Omens Foretelling the Arrival of the Spaniards
 
Chapter Two First Reports of the Spaniards’ Arrival
 
Chapter Three The Messengers’ Journeys
 
Chapter Four Motecuhzoma’s Terror and Apathy
 
Chapter Five The Spaniards March on Tlaxcala and Cholula
 
Chapter Six The Gifts of Gold: The God Tezcatlipoca Appears
 
Chapter Seven The Spaniards Are Welcomed in Tezcoco
 
Chapter Eight The Spaniards Arrive in Tenochtitlan
 
Chapter Nine The Massacre in the Main Temple during the Fiesta of Toxcatl
 
Chapter Ten The Night of Sorrows
 
Chapter Eleven The Siege of Tenochtitlan
 
Chapter Twelve Spanish Raids into the Besieged City
 
Chapter Thirteen The Surrender of Tenochtitlan
 
Chapter Fourteen The Story of the Conquest as Told by the Anonymous Authors of Tlatelolco
 
Chapter Fifteen Elegies on the Fall of the City
 
Chapter Sixteen Aftermath
 
Appendix
Postscript
Selected Bibliography
Index 

Praise

A moving and powerful account, a unique reading experience which should not be missed by any reader interested in history.—Los Angeles Times

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