The History of the Conquest of New Spain by Bernal Daz del Castillo

About this book

The History of the Conquest of New Spain by Bernal Diaz del Castillo a new abridgement of Diaz del Castillos classic Historia verdadera de la conquista de Nueva Espaa offers a unique contribution to our understanding of the political and religious forces that drove the great cultural encounter between Spain and the Americas known as the "conquest of Mexico." Besides containing important passages scenes and events excluded from other abridgements this edition includes eight useful interpretive essays that address indigenous religions and cultural practices sexuality during the early colonial period the roles of women in indigenous cultures and analysis of the political and economic purposes behind Diaz del Castillos narrative. A series of maps illuminate the routes of the conquistadors the organization of indigenous settlements the struggle for the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan as well as the disastrous Spanish journey to Honduras. The information compiled for this volume offers increased accessibility to the original text places it in a wider social and narrative context and encourages further learning research and understanding.