A New Worldview Emerges

1. A New Worldview Emerges

2. Plundered Gold • If you were promised payment for services, and did not receive it, what would you do? • Cortes had promised his men that he would make them rich – that is why they followed him • After the fall of Tenochtitlan, his men threatened to rebel • Most of the treasures they had seen had been sent back to Spain • The Conquistadors had been fighting for years and had not been paid • Cortes wrote to Spain to ask for their payment • Cortes needed these men to remain loyal, as he wanted to start a colony in Mexico • What could he give them to keep their loyalty?

3. Cortes' Solution • Cortes had two policies to solve this problem • One was the encomienda system • One was a “marriage law” • Every Spaniard in New Spain had to either marry an indigenous woman, or bring their wife from Spain • If they did not have a wife within 6 months, they would lose their land • This made them start thinking about long-term goals and would tie them to the colony • How would this change the worldview of those in Mexico?

4. Different Views As long as these encomiendas last, I ask that God be a witness and judge of what I say: the power of the monarchs, even were they on the scene, will not suffice to keep all the Indians from perishing, dying off, and being consumed; and in this way a thousand worlds might end, without any remedy. - Las Casas' General History of the Indies • King Carlos I of Spain wanted to ban the Encomienda system • Harmed indigenous people • Indigenous people resented the Spanish and would not convert • Church leaders believed they should not be forced be slaves • Cortes refused to enforce the ban of the system • Spanish needed a way to support themselves • The colony would suffer • The indigenous were more free now • No sacrifice • He promised to fix the bad treatment of the slaves

5. The Mestizo • The “marriage laws” that Cortes passed had a very huge impact on New Spain society • A whole new race of people – the mestizo – were created • Today they form the largest part of Mexico's population • What kind of worldview do you think these people would have?

6. Bye-Bye Cortes • While Cortes was in the midst of turning his soldiers into settlers, King Carlos took away his job • He appointed Don Antonio de Mendoza as the first viceroy of New Spain • This was the “royal representative” • Many people think that Cortes was removed from power because he was too good at what he did • He may have declared himself king of the colony • He only looked at his own interests, not that of the king

7. Discontent in New Spain • The appointment of a viceroy made it clear that Spain was in control of the colony • The colony kept a steady flow of resources to Spain • Gold, silver and farm products • Were used to fight wars in Europe • The people of New Spain could see that although this was good for Spain, it was not good for the colony • Spain was incredibly wealthy due to the colony • The colony had a shortage of roads, schools and housing

8. Independence • Three distinct groups of people emerged in Mexico over the years • The indigenous people • They were treated poorly and wanted independence • The Mestizos • Many grew up in poverty and were resentful of the Spanish exploitation • They united with indigenous people to fight for independence from Spain • The Creoles • They are the descendants of Spanish settlers • They made up the wealthy class • They eventually supported the independence movement due to high taxes • In 1821, Mexico became independent from Spain

9. Mexican Culture Today • Mexico's culture today is a combination of Indigenous, Mestizo and Spanish traditions • The Roman Catholic Church is a place where you can see this fusion of culture • It includes festivals that were once Aztec traditions • This can also be observed in artists and writers • Frida Kahlo – painter, teacher, influenced by Aztecs • Octavio Paz – writer, indigenous history important to present, inspired by Aztecs -> Sun-Stone