Choose ONE of the primary sources listed in the module, and then answer the following questions (citations are not required):
1. Mexican Codex MapLinks to an external site.
2. Double Headed SerpentLinks to an external site.
3. Letter to the King by Tlaxcalan and Mexica Conquistadors in Guatemala (pp. 83-85)Download Letter to the King by Tlaxcalan and Mexica Conquistadors in Guatemala (pp. 83-85)
4. Testimony on the Conquest of Guatemala by a Tlaxcalan Warrior, Francisco Oçelote (pp. 85-92)Download Testimony on the Conquest of Guatemala by a Tlaxcalan Warrior, Francisco Oçelote (pp. 85-92)
*NOTE: If you experience an error with the BBC websites, you can find downloadable MP3s in the module or in the Files tab
- What type of primary source did you read about? Rather than solely listing the name of the source, explain what “type” of source it is. Describe it as if you were explaining to someone who couldn’t see it.
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Who created this primary source, if known? What information did you learn about the author that might reveal aspects of their perspective? Note: Do not just write a name. You are encouraged to draw on various online resources and Wiki pages when searching for details about the authors of historical documents
- When (chronologically) is the primary source from? If no year is listed with the document, state this information and attempt to make an educated guess.
- Where is the primary source from (geographically)? If this information is not revealed, state this information and attempt to make an educated guess.
- Write a background for your chosen primary source that drawns exclusively on the assigned lecture and reading materials.What themes from lecture are most important for understanding this source? Your answer must demonstrate engagement with relevant information from lecture and/or introductory readings associated with the source(s). Write at least a paragraph and include at least one relevant key word.
- What is the primary source talking about or showing? If you chose an artifact, describe key features and physical characteristics of the artifact. Write at least a paragraph. Do not write quotations.
- Who do you believe originally interacted with the source? In other words, who was the original intended audience? How might that influence the contents within the source? For full credit, you must answer both of these questions.
- Based on your answer to the previous question (intended audience), why do you believe this source was created?
- Based on the information you collected above, what makes this specific source useful for answering the following question: How do Indigenous sources challenge Spanish perspectives about contact, conquest, and/or colonization in Central Mexico? Write at least a paragraph that includes a quotation and/or information directly from the source. To help answer this question, consider the following sub-questions: What about the author’s background, if known, is useful for understanding the time period? Was the source created soon after the events it described? Were there specific advantages to the type of primary sources that you engaged with?
- Based on the information you collected above, what are some limitations or disadvantages of this source for answering the following question: How do Indigenous sources challenge Spanish perspectives about contact, conquest, and/or colonization in Central Mexico? Consider the following questions to help conceptualize your answer: What information about the author might make their perspective limited? What specific perspective(s) might be left out? Was the source written soon after the event or years later? Why does this matter? Are there specific limitations that are unique to the type/genre of source you read? What might be left out of these types of sources?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00tz2d7
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00tt5tr