Cortes was sent by King Charles V (I) of Spain to observe with the idea of overthrowing the impressive Aztec Empire. Cortes letter is a primary source because he witnessed the events he wrote about first hand. Introduction to the Source. The largest Aztec market was located in Tenochtitlan's neighboring town, Tlatelolco. More on Teaching the History of the Early Americas. Primary Sources: Cortes Describes the Aztec Capital of Tenochtitlan, 1520 TOP: In his letter, Hernan Cortes described a marketplace like the one depicted in this diorama of the Tlatelolco Marketplace at Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois. In 1519 Hernan Cortés sailed from Cuba, landed in Mexico and made his way to the Aztec capital. The key to Cortes’s conquests lay in the political crisis within the Aztec empire; the Aztecs were bitterly resented by many … Hernan Cortes, Spanish conquistador who overthrew the Aztec empire (1519–21) and won Mexico for the crown of Spain. The first account comes from a letter Cortés wrote to his king, Charles V, in 1520. This volume contains the second and third letters sent by Hernán Cortés to Emperor Charles V. Cortés’s letters are reports and represent some of the earliest European accounts of Mexican people, culture, religion, and history. Letter, Hernán Cortés This excerpt from Cortés’ Second Letter, written to Charles V in 1519 and first published in 1522, is one of only two instances in Cortés’ letters to the King that explicitly mentions his indigenous translator. Primary Source Packet 1. The National History Center’s New Teaching Decolonization Resource Collection - added Mar 19 Foundations of American History Syllabus - added Apr 14 Paper Assignment: Localizing Global Encounters, Case Study: New Netherland/New York (Suffolk County Community College) - added Apr 14 This excerpt from Cortés’s Second Letter, written to Charles V in 1519 and first published in 1522, is one of only two instances in Cortés’s letters to the King that explicitly mentions his indigenous translator.The letters represent eyewitness accounts of the conquistadors’ deeds and experiences. Letter of Hernan Cortes to Charles V 1520 Second Letter: HistoryWiz Primary Source . Primary Source Reading: Aztec Accounts of the Conquest. - Hernan Cortes 1519 - was supposed to be a part of conquest of Cuba, under command of Velasquez *** however, independent campaign of conquering the Aztec Empire in Mexico - wrote letter to the Emperor of New Spain, explaining findings, and trying to exculpate himself from the charge of mutiny Primary Source Activity Lesson 2 Spain's Conquests in the Americas Cortés Arrives in Tenochtitlán In November 1519, Hernán Cortés and his men entered the capital of the Aztec Empire, Tenochtitlán. From what I gathered through his writing Cortes did not appear to leave any vital information out as he reported every aspect of the noble city. For this discussion. The accompanying map is the first European image in print of Tenochtitlán (Mexico City) and the Gulf Coast of Mexico. 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