Cortez and the Aztecs

 

I'm a history buff. One of my favorite stories in history is that of the Aztecs and Hernando Cortez. If you haven't ever read it, and are interested in such things, one of the conquistadors that was with Cortez wrote an account of those events in The Discovery and Conquest of Mexico (by: Bernal Diaz del Castillo).

The greatest feat in the history of arms was wrought by Cortez and his men with their native allies. Cortes and 900 conquistadors armed with body armor, swords and crossbows, conquered 200,000 Aztec warriors and ended the Aztec empire. The conquest culminated in the battle of Otumba at the site now known as Teotihuacan outside Mexico City. The conquistadors won the day!

You see the Spanish had been occupied by Moroccans for 700 years...when they finally threw the Muslims out of Spain the Spanish figured God was on their side and they could do anything! It was an attitude somewhat like Americans had in the last century. (It is no wonder it was the Spanish who conquered the two greatest empires in the New World...the Aztec's and the Inca's.)

The thing that I wanted to point out was the prophecy that the Aztecs had. They believed that Quetzalcoatl, (The Feathered Serpent), a god-like individual that had prophesized hundreds of years before that he would return in 1519 to reclaim his throne might have indeed returned with Cortez's arrival. Cortez did fit the descriptions of the prophecy. The leader of the Aztecs, Monctezuma, was so shaken by the arrival that he wavered in whether to welcome Cortez or turn him away. That indecisiveness cost him his empire... You can read about the details that led up to and happened that day in Diaz's account. It really is a great story!

The thing I think is most relevant is the concept that believing something, like a prophecy, will unfold a certain way and being 'locked into' that interpretation can spell disaster. Our own beliefs can be used against us. The above story is only one example in history...

On the personal psychological level... I've taught Japanese Karate and self defense for over 25 years now. The first thing I've had to address in classes like Rape Defense are the inner beliefs that many women have. ...If you believe it is wrong to harm another person; that 'ladies' don't do such things...then the moment you have to face an attacker your biggest battle is with yourself. If you aren't completely convinced of your right to defend yourself in that moment...you'll likely fail and be robbed or raped or...

What we believe inside can strengthen us for a fight....or it can weaken us. The Aztecs had to fight their own long-held religious beliefs deep inside of them before they were prepared for the conquistadors. The battle in our hearts and in our heads is the one that must first be fought. If your mind is prepared for the fight you've already won half the battle. If not...you've already lost it.