INTDIS 4 week 8

Columbus and Cortes
1. The Conquest era refers to the years roughly between 1492 (when Columbus set sail) until around 1533. The time in which the Incas and Aztecs were conquered. Some people call this the mixing of European and Indigenous cultures and customs, but history has taught us that it was more likely the time of European dominance.
2. I chose this topic because growing up in elementary school I was always taught that Christopher Columbus and Hernán Cortés were good guys and that we should honor and celebrate their discoveries in the “New World.” But as I grew up and studied the topic more and more, I was surprised to see all of their heroic attributes fly out the window. I want to get another look at Columbus and Cortez and see if they are heroes or villains.
Fun facts 1: Columbus didn’t go to much school, he learned to read and write in Spanish while sailing, and he taught himself Latin, Because he needed to know how to read the maps, which were mainly written un Latin. Cortes on the other hand, attended the University of Salmanca, and was well educated. I think that the difference in their education levels is interesting, because they are so different from each other.
Fun fact 2: Cortez landed on what is now known as Baja California on his very last expedition. This was the first landing on what would become the United States of America. Many people believe this to be the reason that we live there today. Without this last expedition, this land may have remained uncharted forever.
Fun fact 3: I found it interesting how Columbus renamed the islands. Guanahani became San Salvador (Holy Savior) and Cuba which he renamed “Juana” after the Spanish princess.
Fun fact 4: The whole time Columbus was in Latin America, Columbus thought that he was in Asia.

http://www.harlingen.isd.tenet.edu/coakhist/explor.html
This site is reliable because it is a .edu site, which means that it is an educational site.


1. Alyssa chose to look at the Aztec’s because she remembered studying them in school and she fond them interesting
2. Beatriz chose to do the Aztec because she has family in Mexico City.
3. Brandon has always been interested in the Mayan culture.
4. Candace thought that the religious ideas behind the City Where Men Become Gods were interesting.
5. Jamison chose the Aztec because of their rich culture and human sacrifices, advanced mythology and calendar system.
6. Kathy chose to study the Guarani because she had not studied them in school.
7. Kelsey liked the Mayan Pyramids of Chichen Itza.
8. Kim visited the Coba ruins and included a picture of the ball courts.
9. Logan felt a “weird obligation” to pick the Olmec.
10. Sara found the level of the Mayan intelligence surprising.