A Trustworthy Informant
What did Bernal Diaz think worthy of writing down? (i.e. what is the main focus of his narrative?)Why does he highlight some things and ignore things that are prominent features in the two indigenous sources?In what ways is he fairly credible and why? (What reasons would you give for finding him a trustworthy informant?)In what ways is he not credible? (What reasons would you give for not finding him a trustworthy informant?)How does Bernal Diaz describe local indigenous peoples? The Tlaxcalteca, Cempoallans and others? What words does he use?How does he describe Doña Marina? (Malintzin)List 3 or 4 examples in the Bernal Diaz reading that you think illustrate a likely misunderstanding between the Spaniards and the Tlaxcalteca.What do you think of Diazs account of the Spaniards victory over the Tlaxcalteca? How does he explain it?What did indigenous artists and scribes think important? What aspects of these military encounters do their accounts (written or pictorial) highlight?What is most prominent in the images in the Lienzo de Tlaxcala? Humans? Animals? Food?What do these images convey about social hierarchy in indigenous (Nahua) culture?How do the Tlatelolcan nobles (authors of the Florentine Codex) describe Europeans?How do they describe their former allies? (the people of Tenochtitlan?)Is there any evidence in these two sources to suggest that that indigenous peoples admired or feared Spaniards?Who takes precedence in many of the images of the Lienzo de Tlaxcala? Who appears to be managing directing events? Why do you think she is portrayed this way?What do you think of the actions taken by the women of Tlatelolco?
