Primary Sources: Perspectives from the Age of American Exploration

• Accounts from Two Spanish Explorers: Chanca and Cortés
• Champlain: French Encounters in North America
• The Aztec Point of View
• The Clash of Societies
• Sources

When reading historical documents the tainting of facts by the authors is not only a reminder to read objectively but also tells us much about history by demonstrating the attitudes of the time and society. In Peter Stearns’ World History in Documents: A Comparative Reader, the various viewpoints of the accounts from the exploration of the Americas by the Europeans demonstrate this. Dr. Diego Alvarex Chanca accompanied Columbus on his second expedition in 1493 with the prospect of drawing readers with his written account. Hernando Cortés was on a mission from the Spanish royal government. He travelled with two interpreters, a Spaniard who had spent time in the Yucatan and an Indian woman. Cortés conquered the Aztecs in 1521. The French explorer, Samuel de Champlain made several expeditions to Canada. He was a key founder of New France; at times joined with the Huron tribe in attacking the Iroquois; and served as virtual governor of New France. The intent of the authors and their contrasting perspectives as well as the affects of religious beliefs, societal and personal egos, and cultural naiveté give us strikingly different impressions of how things were in during the Europeans first contacts with America that lead to a bigger picture.

Accounts from Two Spanish Explorers: Chanca and Cortés

The two Spanish sources, that of Dr. Chanca and Hernando Cortés contrast with each other’s motives as well as demonstrate some similar beliefs. Dr. Chanca’s dramatic style in this excerpt seems to exaggerate and take advantage of the horrific curiosity he will incite in his readers who have never heard of such things as cannibalism much the way a cheesy thriller would today. Chanca’s quest for popularity is directed towards an audience that had no idea of the rarity and significance of cannibalism in Latin America and he gets away with such stating the natives claim “men’s flesh is so good that there is nothing like it in the world.” (Stearns 204) Hernando Cortés’s report to his government is written in a much more objective style focusing on events as they occurred. It also reflects the religious justification of the Spaniards actions while they “wished them no harm” and were just bringing the islanders “knowledge of the true faith” Cortés was aware of the need to replenish food supply (205) had no question that the natives should supply it to them even if forced. The many remarks about the foresight and action of “the Captain” suggest that Cortés is also tooting his own horn as he writes this to his superiors.

Champlain: French Encounters in North America

Champlain seems to have a more academic intent in his writing, logging dates and going into more detail of the native culture including dress and beliefs. He account is quite specific lending itself an air of objectivism - His ethnocentric view on religion is still evident as he remarks that they do not know how to “worship or pray; yet… they have some superstitions.” (212) When the natives take offense at the seamen using their freshwater supply (211) it is suspect that despite his attempts at understanding, Champlain really had little understanding of the natives. What triggered the Native Americans? Was it an attempt at cutting off the explorer’s resources, or was there significance to the water?

The Aztec Point of View

While Chanca’s account is more dramatized, the accounts of Cortez and Champlain are seemingly less alarming than the Aztec writings from Broken Spears that Stearns presents. Not only did Cortez’s cannons cause the messengers to faint their reports to Motecuhzoma of them, the strange foods and appearance much anxiety (215-216). While the explorers were expecting the unknown, the Aztecs had no inkling how strange strangers could be let alone to expect any in their midst. Another thing worth remarking about the Aztec writings is that the sacrifice of the messengers who had “seen the gods” (215) demonstrates the spiritual significance of the cultural rituals that accounts such as Chanca’s judges as “bestial” (203).

The Clash of Societies

Blending the impressions of these accounts gives a view of two societies on different paths that meet in a haze of misunderstanding leading to violence. While accounts may be tainted by misconceptions and biased viewpoints there is also value in understanding these as well. There existed a mutual naiveté about each other, confounded by the religious righteousness of the explorers. They seem to have been destined to conflict given the missions of the explorers, their attitudes towards different beliefs than their own and the strangeness of the natives to them.