History 3401W conquest 1 outline







ANALYZING MILITARY CONQUEST I. Introduction: Today: context; Thurs: Narrating specific cases II. Caribbean Experience How did the Caribbean experience set the stage the stage for further Spanish colonization? A. Religious concerns 1. Settler justification: teaching them to be civilized and hard working, necessary to become Christians 2. Missionaries, early 1500s, protest conditions: they cannot do their job: Dominican friar Montesinos 1511 sermon 3. Requerimiento (1512): Who is/are the intended audience(s)? What is the vision it presents of the relationship of peoples of the Americas to Spanish monarchs? B. Setting Precedents 1. Settlement 2. Labor a. forced labor b . chattel slavery (“just war”) 3. Competition for power among Spaniards a. Spurred further expansion b. enhanced authority of crown C. Particular characteristics 1. Resistance by indigenous population, but little success 2. Population declined almost to extinction 3. Little wealth III. Balance of Forces (Spanish–Indigenous: Mexica, Incas) What was the balance of forces as Native Americans confronted Spaniards? (Brainstorm) * Weapons & Technology / Tactics Horses (Spaniards) -Mobility -Good on open terrain -Less good in rainforests, jungles, swamps, and causeways -Psychological advantage (initially) -Height/power (greater rewards for mounted soldiers) 2. Iron/Steel (Spaniards) -Sharp (but not sharper than obsidian and could cause gangrene) -Armor -Durability/strength 3. Obsidian blades (Mexica) -Though much less durable than steel swords, they were very sharp, clean-cutting instruments -Used for blood sacrifice -The body could heal much better after obsidian blade cuts than after steel sword cuts 4. Cannons (Spaniards) -Long-range -Heavy/difficult to transport -Dry gunpowder -Used more to destroy walls and buildings than to inflict casualties on enemies Ships Spanish: long-range for supply lines back to Spanish-held territories lake brigantines to enforce siege of Tenochtitlan Indigenous canoes more maneuverable Explanation for different technological developments Jared Diamond thesis: length of settled agriculture and exchanges Adaptation to local environments and cultures (e.g. different conceptions of warfare) Terrain & Mobility Knowledge (Indigenous) -Familiarity with terrains exogenous to Europe -Ambushes 2. Food (Indigenous) -Would you destroy? 3. Modification of terrain (causeways) 4. Defending homeland -Families -Civilians -Losses had more psychological impact Numbers Higher numbers (Indigenous) 2. Reinforcements? (Spaniards) 3. Allies -Provide soldiers, supplies, and information 4. Disease reduced numbers -Timing-It killed lots of people, but it didn’t necessarily even out numbers. 5. Unity vs Division Social/Cultural Factors Information System 2. Transportation, ships (Spaniards) 3. Psychological Factors Fear of indigenous sacrifice Surprise/lack of information Probably willing to take greater risks (Spaniards) Continue to consider the complexities of each category IV. Conclusion Questions: How did the Caribbean experience set the stage for further Spanish colonization? What was the balance of forces as Native Americans confronted Spaniards? Websites on Jared Diamond's Geographical and Biological Theories of Disease and Technology: PBS showing of Guns, Germs, and Steel: http://www.pbs.org/gunsgermssteel/ Text of a lecture by Diamond: http://www.edge.org/3rd_culture/diamond/diamond_p1.html


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