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nickdrachman's review
adventurous
informative
slow-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Violence, and Colonisation
Moderate: Sexual violence
cody240fc's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
The conquest of Mexico is the New World's version of Troy, though in this case we have historical fact supported by primary sources from both sides. Levy's book on Hernan Cortez's destruction of Tenochtitlan and the Aztec empire is remarkable. His descriptions of events and historical figures is compelling, but the primary and secondary sources he uses allows him to provide not only a wonderfully two-sided story, but also introduces the reader to the immense culture clash that took place in a space of just three short years.
There might not be a more complicated historical figure than Hernan Cortez, but the feats he accomplished in Mexico are nothing short of extraordinary. He is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of natives and his accomplishments gave rise to the age of colonialism, but it is also impossible to dismiss his intelligence, decisiveness, political genius, and immense good luck.
This is a captivating read for its adventurous tales of battles and exploits, but it is also valuable for its social, religious and cultural observations. Bravo to Levy. Five stars.
There might not be a more complicated historical figure than Hernan Cortez, but the feats he accomplished in Mexico are nothing short of extraordinary. He is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of natives and his accomplishments gave rise to the age of colonialism, but it is also impossible to dismiss his intelligence, decisiveness, political genius, and immense good luck.
This is a captivating read for its adventurous tales of battles and exploits, but it is also valuable for its social, religious and cultural observations. Bravo to Levy. Five stars.
nightmarekitty13's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.0
boxcar's review
adventurous
dark
informative
sad
fast-paced
4.5
Great telling of Cortes’ assault against the Aztecs. The brutality and human toll is made abundantly clear, and it is not a tale of good guys. Written very compellingly. Absolutely fascinating how an entire culture, the heavyweight of america and perhaps the biggest city in the world can be toppled in a few years. What a damn shame that the meeting of hitherto alien cultures and empires meant the end of one rather than the combination and development of two, together. Devastating, the numbers of human lives lost betrays any possible comprehension.
I appreciated the author’s repeated noting of hypocrisy in the spaniard motivations and justification. Human sacrifice as the justification for torture, enslavement and massacre. Christianity as the supposed motivation to sin in such quantity and at such disgusting lengths.
I appreciated the author’s repeated noting of hypocrisy in the spaniard motivations and justification. Human sacrifice as the justification for torture, enslavement and massacre. Christianity as the supposed motivation to sin in such quantity and at such disgusting lengths.
danang's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5