Most people know about Hernan Cortes and his successful conquest of the Aztec Empire in 1521. But that was not the first time that Europeans landed in what is now modern-day Mexico; the Caribbean islands were colonized at the end of the 15th century, and there were a few attempts to conquer the Yucatan Peninsula before Cortes set sail. The first failed exploration was led by Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba in 1517. Here's how it started.
Very little is known about Hernandez's life before the expedition; the details of the trip come from Bernal del Castillo, one of the sailors. Hernandez was a Spanish native, living in Cuba in 1517; he ended up with a lot of property and other wealth on the island, so it's a good bet that he participated in its conquest. He fell in with a group of bored Spaniards (including Castillo); with his funding, the men petitioned Governor Diego Velazquez to allow them to travel westward and explore new lands.
Hernandez's expedition left Havana on February 8 1517, with three warships and a crew of just over 100 men. After three weeks of sailing on open water, the crew spotted the shore of the Yucatan peninsula--and a cluster of solidly built houses close to the shore. This was a momentous occasion: it was the first time that Europeans had seen a large, advanced population center in the Americas. They had no idea that such a thing existed, and had written off all natives as savages and half-wits. The locals--members of the Maya civilization--sent out their large canoes to greet the Spaniards as Hernandez sent his own rowboats out to investigate. Using basic signs, the natives communicated their welcome and indicated that they would guide the ships onto land the next day.
It's impossible to know Hernandez's thought process as he let the Maya guide him to shore, but he was wary enough to arm his men with muskets and crossbows as they rowed to shore. However they were out-gunned, so to speak, in terms of weaponry; they were ambushed as they approached the town of Catoche, attacked by warriors wielding pikes and slings. The crew escaped by sheer luck; the Spaniards were able to flee back towards their boats and re-embark with haste because the natives were surprised by the power of the Spanish weapons. This was the discovery of the Yucatan--and so far, it wasn't going well.
The men continued on their journey, convinced that the Yucatan was another island. They would find another shore, drop anchor securely, and explore. But there was a problem; the ships were running low on water. Leaking constantly, their stores were insufficient for long voyages. Fifteen days after the initial battle at Catoche, the crew landed near a small Maya village to fill their water casks. The locals were, once again, friendly; they brought the Spaniards into town, showing them idols, gold statues, and Maya priests. But once again, friendliness become animosity; warriors forced the Spaniards back onto their boats simply by threatening to attack. Hernandez and his crew sailed on, totally unaware that they had just discovered the city of Campeche. The exploration mission was rough, sure, but it seemed inevitable that their luck would turn around.
----------------------------------------------------
At BookIt.com you will find great travel specials and vacation deals for destinations worldwide. Our helpful guides and travel tips will give you the information you need to make your travel plans a breeze. Book the ideal vacation package for your Mexican getaway. May we suggest the Great Parnassus http://bookit.com/mexico/cancun/hotels/great-parnassus-resort-and-spa/ as your next vacation destination?
EasyPublish this article: http://submityourarticle.com/articles/easypublish.php?art_id=283489
No comments:
Post a Comment