Letters Of Cortes Vs Montezuma Essay

The three accounts focuses on the conquest of Mexico and the interaction between Hernado Cortes and Montezuma who was the ruler of the Aztec Empire. The three accounts share some similar stories on between Montezuma and the Spaniards or conquistadors especially Hernado Cortes. But the three accounts also differ in the stories it tells.

The similarity between the three accounts is that Montezuma and his lords and nobles receives or greets Cortes and his men. In addition it seems that Cortes and Montezuma were in good terms with each other. But in the two accounts The Bernal Diaz Chronicles and Letters of Cortes writes that when Montezuma and his lords and nobles received Cortes and his men they touched the ground and kissed the earth as a sign of peace. In addition these two accounts reveal to us that Cortes places a necklace on Montezuma. The Bernie Diaz Chronicles mentions that the necklace was made of glass stone with many designs and variety of colors. In the second account, the Letters of Cortes, the necklace was made of pearls and crystals.
For example Montezuma and his lords and nobles doesn't touch the ground or kiss the earth when greeting Cortes and his men. Another difference is the necklace that was placed on the neck of Montezuma by Cortes himself. Actually, it was Montezuma who gives and place a necklace of gold and stone on Cortes ( Nahuatl Accounts of the Conquest of Mexico 115). But this account also depicts Montezuma subjecting himself to Cortes while saying the land belonged to Cortes because when Montezuma gave a speech or spoke to Cortes he said "you have reached your land, your settlement, your home Mexico"(Nahuatl Accounts of the Conquest of Mexico 117). In addition that Montezuma was a temporarily ruler only sitting at the throne until Cortes