Collision of Worlds: A Deep History of the Fall of Aztec Mexico and the Forging of New Spain

Mexico of five centuries ago was witness to one of the most momentous encounters between human societies, when a group of Spaniards led by Hernando Cortés joined forces with tens of thousands of Mesoamerican allies to topple the mighty Aztec Empire. It served as a template for the forging of much of Latin America and initiated the globalized world we inhabit today. The violent clash that culminated in the Aztec-Spanish war of 1519-21 and the new colonial order it created were millennia in the making, entwining the previously independent cultural developments of both sides of the Atlantic. Collision of Worlds provides a deep history of this encounter, one that considers temporal depth in the richly layered cultures of Mexico and Spain, from their prehistories to the urban and imperial societies they built in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. Leading Mesoamerican archaeologist David Carballo offers a unique perspective on these fabled events with a focus on the physical world of places and things, their similarities and differences in trans-Atlantic perspective, and their interweaving in an encounter characterized by conquest and colonialism, but also resilience on the part of Native peoples. An engrossing and sweeping account, Collision of Worlds debunks long-held myths and contextualizes the deep roots and enduring consequences of the Aztec-Spanish conflict as never before.

Table of Contents:
Preface Figures Tables 1. Mexico, Spain, and their Deep Histories of Place 2. Cultural Evolution in Mesoamerica 3. Cultural Evolution in Iberia 4. Mexico and Spain on the Eve of Encounter 5. The Spanish Invasion of Mesoamerica 6. The Spanish-Mexica War 7. Forging New Spain Bibliography

About the Author :
David M. Carballo is Professor of Anthropology, Archaeology, and Latin American Studies at Boston University. His previous books include Urbanization and Religion in Ancient Central Mexico.

Review :
A thorough, balanced, and nuanced view of the Spanish invasion and conquest of Mesoamerica and the establishment of colonial New Spain.... This book not only helps us to better understand the centuries-long experiences in New Spain but also illustrates how weaving together multiple histories, at both macro- and micro-levels, can provide insights about culture contact-the collision of worlds-and its analysis. Well researched, up-to-date, and even-handed, Collision of Worlds is a much-needed retelling of the Aztec overthrow, giving due weight to archaeological findings and indigenous sources, especially those written in Nahuatl by eyewitnesses who let us see into the Mexican side of a complex tragedy long told from mostly European viewpoints. We have long needed just such a book, and I imagine that for many years historians will consult this volume whenever they need to understand more about archaeology's contributions to the study of early Mexico. Illuminating and richly detailed, this fascinating history shows readers that worlds are not lost; tendrils of what has gone before intertwine with, fashion, and forever mark the hybrid societies of today. I so recommend David M. Carballo's dazzling and masterful book on the Aztecs and the Spanish, their similarities and differences. David Carballo has given us 'two for one' in this deep history of the great encounter of Spain and Mesoamerica that forged the Mexico of today. Rather than limit his focus on the dynamic five-year period between the arrival of Spaniards in 1517 and the fall of the Aztec capital of 1521, this book is a monumental work of long range historical and archaeological comparison of ethnicities, myths, cities, markets, world views, and human actions. No other history of the war for the Aztec capital reveals the cultural depth or historical breadth of what was truly at stake when the Aztec ruler Cuauhtemoc yielded to Cortés at the pyramids of Tlatelolco in August of 1521. David Carballo weaves a fascinating historical tapestry. Collision of Worlds is authoritative, evenhanded, and draws on a broad array of sources. This outstanding account helps us understand the roots of today's globalized world. Collision of Worlds takes a new look at the world-changing events of 1519-1521 and the Spanish invasion of Mexico. Archaeologist David Carballo examines two landscapes Collision of Worlds is a unique and resonant achievement, an old story told in a new way. By adopting an archaeologist's perspective, David Carballo is able to offer a fresh and thought-provoking take on the history of the Spanish-Aztec encounter. And by reaching back into the deep Mesoamerican and Iberian pasts, he helps us to better understand that encounter, its outcomes, and its significance. In this remarkable work of comparative history and archaeology, David Carballo situates the Spanish-Mexica wars of the 16th century within a parallel account of Iberia and Mesoamerica, stretching back into humanity's deep past. Carballo's use of the textual archive is a welcome complement to archaeological evidence and material objects...he rightfully relies on historical narratives from late sixteenth- and early seventeenth-century castizo and mestizo authors who petitioned the Spanish courts for recognition as the descendants of Indigenous allies who supported the Spanish troops in the conquest.