Essay #1: Writing the History of the Conquest
Compare and contrast Bernal Díaz’s account(s) of the conquest with ONE of the following:
• Columbus’ “Letter to King Ferdinand”
• Hernán Cortés’ Letters to Charles V
• Fray Bernardino de Sahagún’s texts from the Florentine Codex
Answer this question: How do the authors write the history of the conquest/first contact? Consider the author’s identity, when he is writing, his intended audience, obvious biases, ways in which his worldview (European, Christian, indigenous) is apparent, silences or exclusions (who or what does NOT appear?), etc.
Your ARGUMENTATIVE essay should compare and contrast these aspects of
history-writing or history-making. Although there may be similarities, often the best arguments identify DIFFERENCES.
The papers should 1) present an original thesis and support it with evidence from the texts; 2) include a title that accurately reflects your argument; 3) use Chicago Style footnoting; and 4) contextualize the topic using a BRIEF reference to Burkholder and Johnson’s Colonial Latin America.
I strongly encourage you to see me in advance about essay ideas.
The essay should be five pages, double spaced, using 12-point Times New Roman font and normal page margins. I will deduct three points for each day papers are late.
