Aztecs 远古的回响 -- Aztecs帝国 13

By extraordinary coincidence, the 500 conquistadors led by Hernan Cortes arrived during the exact year when an Aztec prophecy foretold¹ the return of Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent God.

Feathered Serpents represent not only the precious powers of the Earth but also the flowers of the Earth, the ability of the Earth to be reborn in a kind of optimistic cycle that was very important to Aztec life. The symbol of Quetzalcoatl also, he was a myth of eternal return that he would return periodically in the form of a ruler, the form of a great priest or a great man. He’s a symbol who is there in the beginning of history, the center of history is a great creator god and then at the end of their history, as someone who returns, first to save them. Er, but then in the face of Spanish arms and disease, it's not able to allow Aztec life to go on.

The prophecy suggested that the returning Quetzalcoatl would be fair-skinned and bring peace and justice. Could this be why the Spanish soldiers were welcomed so warmly? Their leader, Hernan Cortes described his impressions in letters to Charles V, King of Spain.

I cannot describe 100th part of all the things which could be mentioned. I will say only that these people live almost like those in Spain and in as much harmony and orders there and considering that they’re barbarous since so far from the knowledge of god and cut off from all civilized² nations, it is truly remarkable³ to see what they've achieved in all things.

But there was another reason why the arrival of the Spaniards was so fortuitous. Over the previous three decades, Aztec demands for tribute had sparked growing unrest among the tribes they had conquered. The incidence of sacrifice increased dramatically. The worst occasion in 1487, when records claimed 80,000 people were killed, a bloody⁴ example to deter⁵ further unrest. The Spaniards had come not just to conquer lands for their king, but to make money for themselves. Joining forces with the Aztec's tribal⁶ enemies, gave Hernan Cortes the opportunity he was looking for.

So when the whole conquest was carried out, Cortes takes credit for, Cortes is constantly talking about what he and his men are doing. But we’re still talking about a few hundreds of Spaniards backed up by hundreds of thousands of Indian allies. So the conquest of the Aztecs is not a Spanish conquest of the Aztecs and their empire, but an Indian conquest.

With crossbows and guns, the Spaniards were able to open up the Aztec lines enabling their Indian allies to carry on the battle with their traditional weapons. But where the Aztecs fought to take live captives for sacrifice, these enemies shot to kill.


words to remember:
1/fortuitous:accidental偶然的
2/crossbow:石弩

1 foretold   

v.预言，预示( foretell的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She foretold that the man would die soon. 她预言那人快要死了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Must lose one joy, by his life's star foretold. 这样注定：他，为了信守一个盟誓／就非得拿牺牲一个喜悦作代价。 来自英汉 - 翻译样例 - 文学

2 civilized   

a.有教养的，文雅的

参考例句：

• Racism is abhorrent to a civilized society. 文明社会憎恶种族主义。
• rising crime in our so-called civilized societies 在我们所谓文明社会中日益增多的犯罪行为

3 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

4 bloody   

adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染

参考例句：

• He got a bloody nose in the fight.他在打斗中被打得鼻子流血。
• He is a bloody fool.他是一个十足的笨蛋。

5 deter   

vt.阻止，使不敢，吓住

参考例句：

• Failure did not deter us from trying it again.失败并没有能阻挡我们再次进行试验。
• Dogs can deter unwelcome intruders.狗能够阻拦不受欢迎的闯入者。

6 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。