Post a New Question | Current Questions | Live Experts | Download
Homework Help: Social Studies: World History: Spain Journal
by Robert Hernandez
It is 1499 in the village of Medellin in Entremedura, Spain. I am 14 and I just
received this journal as a goodbye present. I am going to study law at the
University of Salamanca. I am excited about going, but I am also sad to leave
my family.
It is now 1501 and I am home, my parents are happy to see me and I am very happy
to see them. I am now looking for both work and adventure around Cádiz, Palos,
Sanlucai and Seville.
It is 1504 and I am going on an expedition. An expedition to Hispaniola. I am
going to leave for three reasons, the first is for my Spanish manhood, the
second is because I want to find silver and spices, and the third is because
everyone says I am bold.
I arrived in Hispaniola, where I am a gentleman farmer and soldier. I met a
soldier administrator named Diego Velázquez and now he is my most trusted
friends.
It is 1511 and I am very excited because my great friend, Diego is asking me to
join his expedition to conquer Cuba. We are leaving in two weeks.
It is the morning of the day we leave. I am ready to go. I want adventure. We
are leaving now and I am going to navigate in the crows nest. I am very
excited.
We reached land and are in a war with the natives. We have only about 300 men
but we are winning. We conquered Cuba after only two short months. Now we have
won and I met Diego’s sister in law. We are falling in love and I think we will
soon marry.
Diego heard about a wealthy native empire in Mexico and he asked me to lead the
expedition. I am overjoyed with happiness. He also told me that he needed
someone he could trust and would be loyal to him and that I fit those
requirements.
It is 1519 and we are sailing to the native Aztecs of Mexico. We have 11 ships,
500 soldiers, 13 horses, 10 muskets, and 4 cannons. We are anchoring at
Trinidad to hire more soldiers and pick up more horses.
We sailed across the straits of Yucatan and we are now landing on the shores of
the island Cozumel. There is a Spanish castaway named Aguilar who knows the
native language of the Aztecs. He is now our interpreter.
We sailed around the Yucatan Peninsula and are now at the mouth of a river where
we are now looking at a large group of Indians. The Indians would not even let
us come ashore for water. I gave the move for my men to attack and they were on
their way to the land. It felt good being in charge of so many people.
We had several tough battles but be drove them out of their city. After many
Indians were killed, we made peace with them through my interpreter. We stayed
in one spot for about five days to let our wounded recover and to get our
weapons in order.
We set sail again until we reached San Juan de Ulua where we anchored. There
are more Indians here who give us gifts made of gold and silver and food. Our
interpreter is telling us the Indians were sent by Montezuma the emperor of the
Aztecs. Now I am more determined to reach the Aztec empire so I can get more
gold and silver.
I am making friends with the Cempoala Indians who are enemies of the Aztecs.
They are helping us build a base on the shore of a village I named Vera Cruz in
the name of Spain. Spanish ships will land at my base and drop off soldiers and
supplies.
I realized some of my men want to return to Cuba. I removed all the valuables
from my ships and burned all but one.
We started our expedition in 1519 with the help of many Cempoalan warriors at my
side. When we came to Tlaxcalan Indians, I asked for permission to cross their
land but they refused. For a month we fought many battles and I offered another
peace offer and it was accepted. The Tlaxcalans brought us food, water and
gifts.
A month has passed and we are setting out to conquer the Aztecs with an
additional 1,000 Tlaxcalans to fight for me.
We are dazed by the Aztec empire’s beauty. It contains more riches than I would
have ever dreamed of.
I arrested Montezuma and locked him in his palace. At this time I was called
back to my base for an uprising.
I have returned to Tenochtitlan which is what we call the Aztec empire and I
found my men fighting with the Aztecs. Montezuma was stoned to death by his own
people. I retreated back to my base with any soldiers who could and wanted to
follow.
A year has past and I am returning to Tenochtitlan with more men. My warriors
are fighting a battle to end the war and they did. I claimed Tenochtitlan for
Spain and renamed Mexico New, Spain. I returned home with many riches and the
king named me Captain General and Governor of New Spain.
Homework Help: Social Studies: World History
For Further Reading
|
