Bartolome De Sahagun's First Impressions Of Indigenous People

Many prejudge or make assumptions about others when they hear or see things about others. The Spanish undoubtedly made assumptions about Indigenous people in “First Impressions of Spanish Forces” (Traditions and Encounters 5th edition, p. 371). This document was created around the 1530s by Bernardino de Sahagun, a Spanish missionary, to give their perspective on how indigenous people thought when they first met them. During this time, the Spanish were on an expedition to conquer Mexico and Peru to gain control of most of the land. The Spanish headed to Tenochtitlan were Motecuzoma (Aztec ruler), so he dispatched his people to see how they looked and behaved. This document depicts the commonality of perspectives, the attitudes towards Indigenous Americans,
It also gives people an understanding of ethical decisions during the Spanish conquest. Furthermore, other Europeans would have agreed with this source due to the bias in the writing. Secondly, the document shows how the Spanish people treated Indigenous people. From their perspective, they instilled fear and astonishment in them. The document emphasized aspects of the Spanish, including their advanced weapons (guns and crossbows) and the appearance of their horses and dogs. Also, the Spaniard's appearance was described as having their bodies covered, with chalky faces, yellow hair, and long beards. The descriptions show how differently they dressed or appeared to the Aztec people. Lastly, cultural exchange during this time impacted indigenous people's perceptions of foreigners and vice versa. The Spaniards introduced iron weapons, horses, and dogs, which showed the exchange of technology, animals, and cultural practices. The document expresses how the indigenous people were astonished by their appearance, which illustrates the Spaniards' impact on