Cortes Discussion Essay

1. wherefore is Cortes earn a firsthand source?2. Is there any information in his letter that he did not actually observe? How do you comprise this fact with the idea that this is a primary source? Can a document be partially primary and partially secondary? (i.e., scripted by someone who did not witness the events or experience the perception?) 3. What can you infer about Cortes motives in writing about the wonders of Tenochtitlan and the Aztecs? Why did he choose to write about the topics he addressed in this letter? Who is is intended audience, and how might that have influenced the letter? 4. Using Cortes comments in the first two paragraphs, what assumptions can you make about the wealth of the Aztec cite? 5. List three characteristics of the Aztec religion. What religious practice did Cortes attempt to do off with? Do you think that he could have been successful?Cortes letter is a primary source because he witnessed the events he wrote about first hand. From what I gath ered through his writing Cortes did not appear to leave any vital information out as he reported all(prenominal) aspect of the noble city. The way he was able to give his reader, or readers, vivid descriptions of Temixtitlan from the outside in, gives us reassurance that his letter is indeed a primary source. Unfortunately a document cannot be comprised partially primary and partially secondary. Primary accounts are characterized as the direct proof of a period, with cloth organism delivered by eyewitnesses and in this case, Cortes time in Temixtitlan.Cortes chose to comprehend the substance of knowing the geology of the domain he wanted to conquer. Clearly, for early explorers knowing the terrain and being able to locate natural resources is the difference between life and death. He also chose certain topics because he is attempting to make his description audience-relatable, and more importantly, he is trying describe the degree of sophistication of this great city. According to the starting time paragraphs you immediately know that Temixtitlan is an exceptional city as Cortes stated the city had many rare and wonderful objects and that he would try to describe the wealth of what he had seen to the best of his ability. The Aztec religion was sacrificial, barbaric, and full of idol worshipping.