A Critical Commentary of The Conquest of New Spain.

... A Critical Commentary of Document 2, The Conquest of New Spain by Bernal Diaz As an eyewitness to the actual conquest of New Spain it is often assumed that Bernal Diaz's account of the event is one of a rare and credible pieces surrounding the event. Whilst this extract enables us to analyse and explain particular historical questions we should not, without discrediting Diaz, immediately assume its reliability without criticism. Taking the document in isolation with disregard to authenticity and reliability, it is a useful piece of historical evidence, since it helps us to investigate a period of time where limited primary evidence and documentation exists. In this extract Bernal Diaz gives an extensive description of the city of Iztapalapa and he notes, " Today all that I then saw is overthrown and destroyed; nothing is left standing". This commentary emphasises the historical importance of Diaz's account and also

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