This document summarizes the key points from each chapter of Matthew Restall's book "Seven Myths of the Spanish Conquest". The chapters debunk common myths about the Spanish conquest, including that it was led by a small group of adventurers, the conquistadors were professional soldiers, Native Americans and blacks played no role, and Native American culture was completely destroyed. Restall argues these myths originated to justify Spanish actions but fail to recognize the diversity of those involved or Native American agency. He examines how an ideology of Spanish superiority developed and why these myths have persisted.

1. Seven myths of the
Spanish conquest
By Sarah Macedo
December 3, 2011
Seven Myths of the Spanish Conquest

2. “a handful of adventurers”
• This chapter begins to look at the mythology that
embodies the Spanish conquest by explaining
the ever present themes of “discovery”, being
the “greatest event”, and that it was done by a
“handful” of adventurers.
• The “handful” have become one with myth over
the years as their achievements are praised as
brilliant and extraordinary, despite the fact that in
reality much of what they did was protocol and
their beliefs far less unique than we view them
today, such as the conquest pattern used to
conquer the Aztec and Incan civilizations.
• While the stories of Cortés and other
conquistadors are deeply shrouded in mythology
dating back for centuries, I found the
development of Columbus to be especially Monument of Columbus and
interesting because he is a historical figure that Queen Isabella in Madrid, Spain
continues to be debated today. I wonder if most built in the 1880s.
people realize that it was already accepted in
Europe’s educational community that the Earth
is round.
Seven Myths of the Spanish Conquest

3. “neither paid nor forced”
• This chapter focuses on the myth that the Spanish
Conquistadors were made up of soldiers who were a
part of a developed Spanish army. In
reality, however, the modern view of what a soldier is
was not yet formalized when the conquest of the
Americas began and those in the Americas were not
apart of the development of a formalized national
army.
• In fact, the Conquistadors were able to go to the
Americas based on their own wealth, family ties, and
political connections and took the physical and
financial risks in hopes of gaining wealth in the “New
World”.
• They would act according to their own personal
gain, like Francisco de Montejo who was ready to
change sides between Cortés and Velázquez and
even married a wealthy widow to use her money to
fund his company in the Americas.
• Most of them were professionals or tradesmen who A painting of the conquest of the
gained their military training by experience in
American conflicts and not formal instruction (like Aztec Empire credited to Miguel
soldiers would have had).
Gonzales on display in Mexico.
Seven Myths of the Spanish Conquest

4. “invisible warriors”
• This chapter looks at the often overlooked
role of the other groups who played a part in
the Spanish conquest of the Americas, the
blacks and Native Americans. By pointing
out the roles that these groups played during
the conquests, two myths are disbanded:
• 1) the idea that those of Spanish descent were
the only conquistadors
• 2) that the Spaniards won besides being
grossly outnumbered. In actuality, they were
accompanied by many allied Native Americans
and blacks who greatly out numbered the
“Spaniards” on the same side. This means that
many of the battles were more equal than many
statistics imply.
• There are records today of several black
Image of Aztec Warriors. men who not only were conquistadors but
had achieved some wealth and power as a
result of their success. Some, like Juan
Valiente, were slaves who were supposed to
turn over their achieved wealth to their
owners. Others, like Juan Beltrán, were
given jurisdiction over a developing fort and
Seven Myths of the Spanish Conquest
500 Native Americans.

5. “under the Lordship of the
King”
• This chapter analyzes the “myth of completion” (as it is
referred to by Restall) in the sense that the Spanish
considered themselves to have successfully completed
their conquest of the New World.
• He argues that by referring to the Spanish conquest as
such, a sense of the inevitability of Spanish avail is
implied. Having originated in the 16th century with
accounts from the conquistadors, this name and its
ideology have persisted through the centuries giving a
false sense of Spanish destiny. This ideology had a two
fold reason:
• 1: The Spanish society emphasized the notion of
contractual fulfillments and rewards
• 2: To justify their actions in the Americas by proclaiming
them to be God’s destiny for the Spanish.
• In reality, however, the “conquest” was in many ways
never a “completed” affair, especially from the Native
American view point that observed the colonial aspects
of the interaction as well as the elements of conquest.
While some elements of Spanish cultures made its ways
into the lives of the native peoples, they did not consider
themselves to be complete subjects to the Spanish king
because they maintained some of their own culture as Spanish Royal Shield
well.
Seven Myths of the Spanish Conquest

6. “The Lost Words of La
Malinche”
• In this chapter, Restall looks at the various myths
surrounding the communication between the
Spaniards and the Native Americans. Once again,
Restall notes that these myths come from extremes
in interpretation:
• 1) On the one hand, it can not be assumed that the
communication between the Spanish and Native
Americans was perfect, especially at first, because they
were speakers of different languages (they would have
to speak through translators, like La Malinche).
However, it is indicated that the Spaniards would be
skeptical of interpreters as demonstrated by the
Spanish statement, “We thought the interpreter was
misleading us.”.
• 2) On the other hand, it can not be said that the Native
Americans had no understanding of what the Spanish
were doing or of their intentions resulting in the
Spaniards being the sole beneficiaries of
Image portraying an miscommunication. (While initial leaders were killed, the
alliance between the civilizations perished more from disease and disunity
Spanish and the than from miscommunication with the Spanish).
Tlaxcalteca
Seven Myths of the Spanish Conquest • The differences in culture should not be overlooked
as a means for misunderstandings, as illustrated by

7. “The Indians are Coming to
an End”
• In this chapter, Restall looks at the commonly taught
idea that the culture of the Native Americans was
completely destroyed as a result of the European
contact. This is often accompanied by one of the
following contrasting myths:
• 1) The Native Americans were too pure in their societies
to be able to handle the realities of the European
conquest and were unable to hold on to their culture.
• 2) The Native Americans were uncivilized and benefited
from the Spanish conquest and the complete adoption of
Spanish ways.
• Restall argues, however, that the Native American
civilization should not be viewed through either
romanticized or racist eyes as done in the two examples
above. Instead they should be viewed as a civilization
equal to that of the Europeans in their own way, with
their own successes and faults and just as eager to
preserve their own civilization.
“The Funeral of Atahualpa”, a ruler of
• The Native Americans should also be looked at as
the Incan civilization. It was diverse civilizations each with their own reactionary
considered to be a major step in the course to deal with the Spanish.
“conquest” over the Incan peoples. • In the end, it is clear that elements of their culture and
people did not die out with the “conquest” but found a
way to survive.
Seven Myths of the Spanish Conquest

8. “Apes and Men”
• In this chapter, Restall looks not only at why these
myths were originally created (many dating back
to the 16th century) but also at why they have
been perpetuated through the centuries since. To
explain this, Restall explores what is called “The
Myth of Superiority”.
• According to this idea, people transform
conquests into myths in order to justify their
actions against other cultures. By making
themselves superior to the “others”, it makes their
actions necessary and even noble in some cases.
This helps not only those at the time of the
conquest justify what they did, but it also helps
those studying history later handle what they
learn. This openly divides people into groups of
the “superior” and the “inferior”. A picture illustrating the “White Man’s
Burden” during the Age of
• Some Spaniards took this ideology to the extreme Imperialism. This particular image
as seen in the words of Sepulveda who said that
the Native Americans “hardly deserve the name of was used in support of the American
human beings”. While his words did not speak for colonization of the Philippines, but
every Spaniard at the time, it illustrates how this
ideology was used as a mechanism for justifying the same ideology can be seen
complete dominance over another people.
Seven Myths of the Spanish Conquest
during the 16th century Spanish
conquest.

9. Work cited
• Restall, Matthew. Seven Myths of the Spanish
Conquest. New York: Oxford University Press, Inc.,
2003. Print.
• All images from www.wikipedia.org
Seven Myths of the Spanish Conquest
Matthew Restall