The Conquest of Mexico: A Modern Rendering of William H. Prescott's History

By Beatrice Berler

Book Overview

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0931722705
• ISBN13: 9780931722707
• Release Date: January 1988
• Publisher: Corona Pub Co
• Length: 148 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 0.5" x 5.8"

Customer Reviews

Berler's version of The Conquest of Mexico

The Conquest of Mexico by Beatrice Berler The conquest of Mexico is a century and a half years old, and William Prescott originally wrote it. His version now is translated in 20 different languages and appears in over 200 additions. Beatrice Berler wrote a version, originally a three-volume set, to introduce Prescott's work to the average person. Berler sums up her work in an easy to comprehend book. Berler started her history career fifty five year ago at Amherst Collage taking a history of Spain class that introduced the original Conquest of Mexico. Berler want the audience to understand Mexico's landscape, climate and food sources, which is interesting how different it is from ours. The author informs us why Mexico was so desirable to the Spaniards. Berler does a good job letting us know that the Aztecs were not savage Indians like in the northern territory. The Aztecs were civilized and were not just savage animals free in the woods, they had rules and morals, they were controlled by an elected ruler, and had a Government, This was new and interesting to me. I like the descriptive ways Berler states the way the Aztecs fight. It's interesting the warriors fought to take prisoners not to kill. Their armor was made of thick cotton, which was hardly penetrated, with the weak weapons of the time. Berler has us understanding the technology of both Mexico and Spain. The richer people wore gold and silver helmets and the rest wore wooden helmet shaped like animal heads. I think the author is clear about who the Aztecs were and where they lived. Berler describes the Spaniards and when they sailed the Atlantic Ocean. It's interesting that they first landed on Cuba and took captures and claimed it. I like how the author explains the progress of moving to the mainland and communicating with the Indians, both friendly and aggressive. She briefly and to the point sums up the battles and outcomes in a good organized manner. I like the way Berler talks about conversations of convincing the Aztecs to take up their Spanish customs. Spain's determination to speak with Montezuma is clever and her discussion is informative and exciting, but is confusing where some events are taking place, because the places are unfamiliar Spanish names. It's interesting how Berler explains Montezuma's thoughts of the Spaniards. I like the way Cortez plans to get his men to stay and help him with his plans. The plans are excellent and very clever. Cortez is very talented and know what he wants to do. He disguised his plans and make great progress. Berler discusses the Tascalans and discusses their custom, lifestyle, and relation with the Aztecs, which is neat. I like how Berler describes Spain's tactics of meeting the enemies of Montezuma and planning to deal with them. I like the details of Cortez's move through Mexico and how the Indians saw Spain. The author does a good job describing Spain's battle tactics fighting the Indians. It is amazing how many different Indian t