Date: April 10th, 2014
To: Arguello, Professor, HIST140
From: Jasmine Boisvert, Student
Re: Book Report, Seven Myths and Jesuit Relations
In discussing The Seven Myths of the Spanish Conquest and The Jesuit Relations, the main themes and events of each book will be focused on with dispelling untrue myths during the Spanish Conquest and learning the relations between the Jesuits and the Native Indians.
The Seven Myths of the Spanish Conquest sheds light on the false myths that many believe to be true. First, there are many misconceptions of Christopher Columbus, about his character and that he discovered the America's on purpose, but it was an accident. Or the reports from the conquistadors to the crown, these reports being self written and glorified, such as Hernan Cortes and his accomplishments. When "conquering" America, the Spanish were misconceived as only having a few hundred, but they were assisted by friendly indians and African's who are failed to be mentioned.
English: Oil on canvas. The original hangs in the ...
Father Jacques Marquette with Indians.
Seven Myths of the Spanish ConquestMany other myths are discussed, such as the Native Indian's culture of them being uncivilized, cannibals, and unable to learn. Or that the Spanish were seen as gods to the natives, but they were not.
The Jesuit Relations tells of encounters between the Europeans and the Native Americans. The Jesuits being French missionaries of the Society of Jesus, who came after European explorers, were not there to conquer the natives, but to coexist and teach them. They had detailed reports on their encounters with the native tribes and their efforts to convert them to Christianity. These reports described their customs, culture, their progress of colonization, war outbreaks and their disease epidemics of influenza in 1637 and smallpox in 1939.
Jesuit Missionaries, Father Marquette and Jean de Brebeuf, spent a good amount of their lives living with the native tribes. Father Marquette...