Arriving in the New World
Hi, my name is Hernán Cortés. When I was young I studied law but I soon gave that up to seek fortune in the New World. I arrived here in the New World when I was 18 in 1503. I sailed here in a covoy of merchant ships. I was heading for Santo Domingo, the capital of Hispaniola. Upon my arrival I regestered as a citizen which entitled me to a building plot and land for culivation. Soon after this, Ovando, the governer, gave me a repartimiento of Indians and made me notary of the town of Azuza. In, 1506 I took part in the conquest for Hispaniola and Cuba, I recieved a large estate of land and Indian slaves for my effort.
-Hernán Cortés-
Niltze!
My name is Namacuix. Nice to meet you, Hernán Cortés. I don’t know what you call the ‘New World’, but I live in Tenochtitlan. It is a very nice place. There are many public places here, so you would never get bored. There is the main temple, the temple of Quetzalcoatl, the ball game, the rack of skulls, the temple of the sun, the platforms of the gladitorial sacrifices, and more.
What is a govenor? Is it like an emperor? Well, right now Moctezuma Xocoyotzin is emperor. He rules all of Tenochtitlan. There is this big palace he lives in. I always wanted to be an emperor, but my parents said that wasn’t the right path for me.
Why did you take part in that conquest? I just don’t understand it. Don’t you have a place of your own that you live in? Why did you do that, knowing that there were many familes that would die because of your greed?
That’s all I have to say. Nice meeting you.
Hi, I call it the New World because it like a “new world” to all of us Spainards. A governer is someone who is in charge of everything. He says what happens. I took part in it because I needed it.
I hope that answers a lot of your questions, so goodbye for now.