The Conquest of America

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Focusing on the cultural clash during the Spanish conquest of the New World, this study presents a unique interpretation of the interactions between the Spaniards and pre-Columbian cultures in Mexico and the Caribbean. Through sixteenth-century sources, Tzvetan Todorov explores the beliefs and actions of both the conquistadors and the Aztecs, highlighting the devastating impact of this encounter, which led to the near annihilation of Mesoamerica's indigenous populations. The analysis extends its implications beyond the historical context.