The Broken Spears by Miguel Leon-Portilla
Today is Cinco de Mayo, the anniversary of Mexico's victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. This holiday is a good chance to visit the history and story of Mexico by Mexicans, via literature. Perhaps my favorite history story I've ever read is the Broken Spears, which is the Aztec's account of the Spanish conquest of their country during the 1500s.
The book is unique due to the fact that it is one of the few written testimonies of conquest by those conquered during that period of European expansion, colonization, and conquest. The story is riveting, especially scenes of depicting the Spanish soldiers decision to massacre unarmed Aztecs during a religious ceremony.
Also, this version of history throws salt in the eyes of traditional history that the Aztecs were completely overran by the Spaniards, as if the magic of metal weapons and guns were too much for the primitive native Mexicans could handle. However, the Broken Spears tells a different story: of how the Aztecs sent Cortez and his army scurrying into the four winds in the middle of the night when the Aztecs decided to attack ferociously.
But we all know the outcome of the conquest of Mexico by the Spanish. The Aztecs and the Spanish had different ideas of warfare: instead of eradicating the invading army from their homeland by pushing their advantage, the Aztecs allowed the Spanish to escape, believe they would then sail home and leave them in peace. That is what the other tribes around the Aztecs would've done.
Speaking of the other tribes, if it wasn't for enemies of the Aztecs joining forces with the Spaniards, then the conquest of Mexico might not have happened. If that didn't happen, then the Battle of Puebla would not have happened. And if that did not take place, then there would be no Cinco de Mayo. If there was no Cinco de Mayo there would be no excuse to down Coronas and tequila all night long, which is sadly how many Americans choose to celebrate this important moment in history.
For more info: Visit this link for a brief history of Cinco de Mayo at http://www.vivacincodemayo.org/history.htm, and check Wikipedia for a list of Mexican-American writers at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Mexican_American_writers
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