The Broken Spears

The Aztec Account of the Conquest of Mexico

For hundreds of years, the history of the conquest of Mexico and the defeat of the Aztecs has been told in the words of the Spanish victors. Miguel León-Portilla has long been at the forefront of expanding that history to include the voices of indigenous peoples. In this new and updated edition of his classic The Broken Spears, León-Portilla has included accounts from native Aztec descendants across the centuries. These texts bear witness to the extraordinary vitality of an oral tradition that preserves the viewpoints of the vanquished instead of the victors. León-Portilla's new Postscript reflects upon the critical importance of these unexpected historical accounts.

Reseñas de la Crítica

A moving and powerful account, a unique reading experience which should not be missed by any reader interested in history.—Los Angeles Times

Better books on this subject.

Pretty boring with not much evidence to back up some of the claims . We shall never know the true details of the massacre of cholo or how Montezuma died.

Great narrative and good reader

I enjoyed learning about the various perspectives of the pre - and post colonial Mexico. Epic stories, religious conversations, and a good narrator help create more context and backstory to understanding this era of history.

Poor narration

It’s a bit uneasy listening to someone that can’t read a full sentence without repeatedly pausing before completing the sentence

Uh yeah this book is trash.nda.

its word choice is embarrassing. Its opening statement that the conquered don't tell there story. This book is exactly that its collection of writings are heavily influenced by spanish propaganda. It reads as if a the spanish tried to use the azteca people to give more credibility but its still all propaganda and fake demeaning against the antics. it does the opposite of what it "set out to do" I see right theough this books purpose which is a new propaga