Glossary
Age of Discovery
A historical period from the 15th to 18th centuries when European nations embarked on extensive overseas exploration, leading to the discovery of new lands and global trade routes.
Example:
The Age of Discovery fueled expeditions like Cortés's, driven by desires for wealth, glory, and the spread of Christianity.
Asíndeton
A rhetorical device that involves the omission of conjunctions between parts of a sentence, often to create a sense of urgency, speed, or directness.
Example:
Cortés might describe the city's canals, bridges, markets, using asíndeton to convey the rapid succession of impressive sights.
Aztec Empire / Tenochtitlán
The dominant Mesoamerican civilization at the time of the Spanish conquest, with Tenochtitlán as its magnificent capital city, built on an island in Lake Texcoco.
Example:
Cortés marveled at the sophisticated urban planning and vast markets of Tenochtitlán, the heart of the Aztec Empire.
Enumeración
A rhetorical device that involves listing details, items, or ideas in a series, often to create a sense of abundance, thoroughness, or overwhelming quantity.
Example:
Cortés uses enumeración when he lists the diverse goods available in the Aztec markets, from precious metals to exotic foods.
Hernán Cortés
A Spanish conquistador who led the expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire and brought large parts of mainland Mexico under the rule of the King of Castile in the early 16th century.
Example:
The Segunda carta de relación was written by Hernán Cortés to justify his actions and report his discoveries to the Spanish Crown.
King Carlos V
The Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain to whom Hernán Cortés addressed his letters, seeking royal approval and legitimacy for his conquest.
Example:
Cortés meticulously detailed the riches of the New World in his letters, hoping to impress King Carlos V and secure his continued support.
La construcción de la realidad
A theme that examines how an author's perspective, biases, and rhetorical choices shape the way events, characters, and settings are presented to the reader.
Example:
Cortés's letter exemplifies la construcción de la realidad, as he carefully crafts his narrative to justify the conquest to the King.
La creación literaria
A theme that explores the artistic and stylistic choices made by an author, including the use of literary devices, language, and narrative structure, to create meaning and impact.
Example:
The vivid descriptions and persuasive tone in the letter demonstrate la creación literaria as Cortés uses language to achieve his goals.
La naturaleza y el ambiente
A theme focusing on the depiction of the natural world, geography, and resources, often reflecting human interaction with and perception of the environment.
Example:
Cortés's descriptions of the fertile lands and abundant gold illustrate the theme of la naturaleza y el ambiente in the New World.
Las sociedades en contacto
A theme exploring the interactions, conflicts, and cultural exchanges that occur when different societies meet, often highlighting power imbalances and mutual misunderstandings.
Example:
The theme of las sociedades en contacto is central to the letter, as it details the complex relationship between the Spanish and the Aztecs.
Montezuma II
The ninth and last Aztec emperor, who initially welcomed Hernán Cortés into Tenochtitlán but later became a captive and figurehead under Spanish control.
Example:
The initial encounter between Cortés and Montezuma II is a pivotal moment, showcasing the clash of two powerful leaders.
Narrador testigo
A narrative voice where the narrator is a participant in the events being recounted, offering a firsthand account from their own perspective.
Example:
In Segunda carta de relación, Cortés functions as a narrador testigo, describing the events as he experienced them during the conquest.
Narratorio
A literary term referring to the implied or explicit addressee of a narrative, distinct from the actual reader.
Example:
The narratorio of Cortés's letter is clearly King Carlos V, influencing the tone and content of his descriptions.
Polisíndeton
A rhetorical device that involves the repeated use of conjunctions (like 'y' or 'and') in close succession, often for emphasis or to create a sense of accumulation.
Example:
The author described the mountains y the valleys y the rivers y the plains, using polisíndeton to convey the vastness of the landscape.
Spanish conquest of Mexico
The historical process by which the Spanish Empire, led by Hernán Cortés, conquered the Aztec Empire and established colonial rule over much of Mesoamerica in the early 16th century.
Example:
The Spanish conquest of Mexico is the central historical event documented and justified in Cortés's Segunda carta de relación.