The sources and questions relate to case study 2: The conquest of Mexico and Peru (1519–1551) — Impact: Cultural interaction and exchange.

Source E

Bernal Díaz del Castillo, a Spanish soldier who served under Hernán Cortés, writing in his memoirs, A True and Full Account of the Discovery and Conquest of Mexico and New Spain (c1568).

Motecusuma [Moctezuma II] conducted Cortés to an elevated seat at his right hand. Cortés … [revealed to Motecusuma] the commandments of our God. We were Christians, believing in one true God only, Jesus Christ, who suffered and died for our salvation. We prayed to the cross as a symbol of that cross on which our Lord and Saviour was crucified. Those figures, on the contrary, which he [Motecusuma] considered as gods, were no gods, but devils.

Motecusuma replied: “I am not ignorant of what you have stated concerning the cross. We, however, maintained silence, as the gods we adore were adored in past ages by our ancestors. We have, once [and] for all, acknowledged them as good gods, in the same way as you have yours, and therefore let us talk no further on this subject. Respecting the creation of the world, we likewise believe it was created many ages ago. We likewise believe that you are those people whom our ancestors prophesied would come from the rising of the sun, and I feel myself indebted to your great emperor, to whom I will send a present of the most valuable things I possess.”