Today in this blog post (and original video as well as audio podcast) I want to discuss a podcast episode titled, “The Fall of the Aztecs: The Adventure Begins (Part 1)” on “The Rest is History,” by historians Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook. I’m excited to share about this podcast and topics it references for several reasons.
First, I’m a real history geek, particularly fascinated by the history of the “encounter of cultures” in the Americas in the 1500s, the “Age of Exploration,” the “conquest of the Americas,” or whatever terms you choose to use to describe the dramatic and destructive introduction of the values of European colonialism into the Western hemisphere of our planet.
When I was in college as an undergraduate at the US Air Force Academy, I majored in Latin American Area Studies. I went to Mexico City on a Fulbright scholarship and studied there for a year. I had friends who had relatives that owned one of the haciendas originally owned by Hernán Cortés, where I was able stay several times. During that year, I traveled in various parts of Latin America, including Mexico, Panama, El Salvador and Guatemala. As a USAFA cadet I visited Peru in the summer of 1990 on an exchange visit, and learned much more about the violent legacy of Spanish Conquistadors there. As a student of history and the Spanish language, I enjoy and appreciate many of the intersections between so many historical events, values and ideas that we can find in historical narratives like this.
Today, in the fall of 2023, I find myself as a middle school STEM teacher, teaching computer programming. My class is building a virtual colony on Mars using Minecraft and software called Microsoft MakeCode. I’m particularly excited about this chapter of history involving Hernán Cortés landing in Mexico and the conquest of the Aztec Empire, including the collision of civilizations and its implications for Mexican history, the history of North America, colonialism, slavery, and the legacies of oppression and economic poverty. While I have not mentioned it at length with my middle school coding students this semester, I think the experiences and history of colonialism in the Western Hemisphere are important for us to study and understand as we consider what “we” (as earthly space explorers) are preparing to do on our moon and nearby planets in the years ahead.
Discovering this podcast about Cortez and the Aztecs is exciting, in part, because it reminds me a lot of Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History podcast. If you love history, Dan’s “deep dive” podcasts are fantastic to experience. I’m sharing this connection because despite social media’s fragmented and polluted nature today, we can still make valuable connections to other people and ideas though blog posts (and videos) like this one. When you find someone passionate about a topic you’re passionate about, it leads to exploring more resources like reading books, listening to podcasts, and watching videos. My favorite podcast projects by Dan Carlin are his “Wrath of the Khans” series and “Supernova in the East,” a six part (free) series about World War 2. See my June 2015 post, “Spinning a Revised History of Genghis Khan with Media and Exhibits,” for more related thoughts on Genghis Khan and Carlin’s podcast series.
In addition to this 7 part podcast series about Cortez and the Aztecs, Dominic Sandbrook also has a book titled “The Fall of the Aztecs,” which is a children’s book and part of his “Adventures in Time” series.
This is the first “blog post” I am initially recording as a video, and then using AI / artificial intelligence to generate a draft transcript I can edit. In some cases like this, it is more efficient for me to verbally express ideas (and record them) than write them down. I’ve been blogging since 2003 and started my blog on WordPress in 2005. However, writing and crafting a post takes time. By “Playing with Media” in this way, in the spirit of my first book, I’m trying out a new media creation workflow:
- I recorded this video on my iPhone.
- I added a text title in iMovie, exported the edited video and uploaded it to YouTube.
- I waited for the YouTube algorithms to transcribe it. (That took about 30 minutes after the uploaded completed.)
- I used AI, first Claude.ai and then ChatGPT-4, to help clean up and improve the writing.
If you want to connect with me for continued learning, you can visit wesfryer.com/after. Despite changes in platforms (like quitting Twitter this week) I’m still sharing on several others including Facebook, Mastodon, Threads, and Blue Sky… So this website provides a consistent place to find me.
Now, let’s talk a bit about the podcast series “The Fall of the Aztecs.” I’ve listened to part seven, which is the end of the story, and the first part, titled “The Adventure Begin”. This series is a great example of open-ended, unbounded media sharing formats. As a middle school STEM teacher, when preparing lessons, I’ve found that recording a video is usually more concise and faster than a live demo in class. This freedom from the constraints of traditional broadcast media, like radio or television, is liberating when you’re passionate about a topic and want to take more time to explore it.
I love podcasts for their ability to dive deep into subjects. On my website, I’ve linked to the podcasts I subscribe to, including Dan Carlin’s “Hardcore History”. His series “Wrath of the Khans” and “Supernova in the East” are particularly notable. The intersection of interests often leads to serendipitous discoveries, as exemplified by this Aztec series.
Let me talk a bit about “The Fourth Part of the World” and my time in Mexico City. “The Fourth Part of the World: An Astonishing Epic of Global Discovery, Imperial Ambition, and the Birth of America” is a fascinating book by Toby Lester. I own it in both paperback and Kindle formats and have read it multiple times. It tells the epic story of the Waldseemüller map, also known as “America’s birth certificate.” This map, which I was created in 1507, is the most expensive item ever purchased by the Library of Congress, costing $10 million. It represents the culmination of European cartography in 1507, reflecting the cartographers’ and historians’ understanding of the world at that time, influenced by Greek knowledge and mythology. Significantly, it was the first map to show the Americas, both North and South, completely surrounded by water, marking a pivotal moment in history and geography.
Living in Mexico City was one of the most significant decisions of my life. After graduating from the Air Force Academy in 1992, I was faced with the choice of immediately pursuing pilot training or accepting a Fulbright scholarship to study in Mexico City. Inspired by my professor, Colonel Michael L. Dziedzic, who had studied in Mexico for his doctorate, I chose the latter. My initial proposal was to organize a conference on collective security in the post-Cold War era, an idea influenced by the optimistic yet somewhat naive views of the time, such as those presented in Francis Fukuyama’s “The End of History.” Unfortunately, the conference didn’t materialize, and I didn’t apply those studies towards a degree. Instead, following 52 hours in undergraduate pilot training, I ended up leaving the Air Force for medical reasons, becoming an elementary school teacher, and eventually earned a Master’s in education and a doctorate in curriculum and instruction.
While in Mexico City, I lived with a friend, Sean Conaway, and had the opportunity to connect with Filipe Fenton, whose family owned the second hacienda of Hernán Cortés, located in Cuernavaca. The hacienda, part of Cortés’ estate, was a fascinating place, rich in history. During my stay, I learned about its past as a convent and the ongoing archaeological excavations revealing its complex history, including the discovery of skeletons of babies buried in the walls.
The juxtaposition of cultures in Mexico City is striking, particularly in Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital, where the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral now stands. The area’s history, including human sacrifice, is deeply entwined with the narrative of Spanish conquest and the stories told by historians. These experiences helped shape my understanding of history, including the intricacies and potential embellishments in historical narratives.
While living in Mexico, also had the remarkable experience of climbing the Popocatépetl volcano, one of the two volcanoes south of Mexico City astride the Pass of Cortes. Climbing this volcano, which is over 17,000 feet high, was a significant moment for me, especially considering its historical and geological significance.
As of November 2023, the developments in space exploration, particularly with programs like SpaceX and NASA’s plans to return to the moon with international partners, are exciting. The advancements and changes in the space program over the last decade reflect a significant shift in our approach to space exploration.
NASA last sent humans to land on the moon in 1972, with six missions starting in July of 1969. There have been many rovers and uncrewed spacecraft that have landed or attempted to land on the moon since then. The plan with the Artemis program is to return to the moon, establish a presence there, and then use it as a launching point for Mars exploration. There’s a vision to colonize Mars, and I recently came across a book questioning the practicality of this. “A City on Mars: Can we settle space, should we settle space, and have we really thought this through?” by Kelly Weinersmith and Zach Weinersmith is on my reading wish list. (See the 28 Oct 2023 NYTimes article, “Is It Time to Pull Up Stakes and Head for Mars?” for more on this.) As a history student and now STEM teacher, I value multidisciplinary connections like those raised by the prospect of off-world colonization. Life and our world is complex. Sometimes teachers can oversimplify topics, possibly reducing student engagement with the material. Our coding unit, building a Mars colony in Minecraft, provides an outstanding opportunity to dive into some complex issues like those raised in this podcast about the Aztecs.
When discussing topics like Mars exploration, it is relevant consider the historical context of past colonialism. This can include the choices made by Spaniards and others Europeans who came to the Americas, imposing their colonial worldviews, values and culture. This “collision of cultures” was devastating for Native cultures in multiple ways, including disease / small pox as well as slavery. Having lived in Oklahoma, home to 36 federally recognized tribes, for 16 years, I’ve gained more awareness of Native cultures and history, though I still consider myself a beginner in this area.
It’s important to acknowledge genocides, like those against the Jewish people during the Holocaust and the Armenian genocide, which remains controversial in modern-day Turkey. Native peoples have also experienced genocides. The first episode of this “Fall of the Azetecs” podcast series discusses Hispaniola, where Christopher Columbus (Cristobal Colon) landed, thinking he was in India. The Taino people, an Arawak-speaking group from the Yucatan Peninsula, were completely exterminated by the Spaniards. This tragic fact of history should provide anyone contemplating “colonization” of a new planet or other area pause to consider ethics and the long term consequences of our choices.
The authors of the podcast, Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook, describe the Conquistadors as “armed entrepreneurs,” highlighting how colonial oppression and the dehumanization of other human beings became institutionalized. The Christian church was weaponized to oppress and dehumanize native people, leading to systematic oppression and servitude of millions. While capitalism and entrepreneurial activities have their merits, it’s crucial to study colonial history and its impacts.
In terms of space exploration, the European conception of property and land ownership, exemplified by Cortez claiming lands for Spain, is embedded in this history. This approach to land and its division, often leading to plantations and colonies with slaves and peasants, is a significant aspect of colonial history. (“Encomienda“) Understanding this history helps us confront its brutal realities while maintaining hope and avoiding nihilism.
Recently, my wife and I completed a course called “Confronting Whiteness,” which began after the pastor of Myers Park Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, and his wife adopted an African-American daughter. The course emerged partly from the “Black Lives Matter” movement following George Floyd’s murder. It was challenging but enlightening, introducing me to the works of James Baldwin, Malcolm X, and other African-Amerian writers. The course inspired me to initiate a project called “Healing Our Culture.” As a teacher, citizen, and follower of Jesus, I believe we need to heal our culture rather than wound it. We must address the historical trauma caused by chattel slavery, colonialism, and unregulated capitalism, which have left unhealed scars in our society.
In all of this, it’s possible to lose hope amidst the oppression and brutality that humans can inflict on each other. As someone who has lived in Oklahoma, a place with a significant Native American population, and now in North Carolina, I’ve caught a dim glimpse of the suffering of First Nation and indigenous communities who have experienced near-genocide. It’s crucial to maintain hope and acknowledge the heroism and beauty in the love and support people provide to each other, even amidst tragedy and suffering.
As a student of Latin American history and culture, I am fascinated by how culture and economics have been shaped not only by geography but also by human choices. This podcast about “The Fall of the Aztecs” discusses whether the choices made by Cortez altered the trajectory of cultural collisions between European nations and the peoples of the Americas, or if such collisions were inevitable. The introduction of diseases like smallpox, often unintentional but sometimes deliberate, as in the case of infected blankets given to Native Americans, is a dark chapter in history.
It’s vital to introduce students to historical characters and contemporary debates, as history is often revised and reinterpreted. For example, in my children’s literature course at Texas Tech University, we read “Encounter” by Jane Yolen, which portrays a different perspective on Christopher Columbus and the destructive collision of cultures from the viewpoint of the indigenous people.
Studying history, we must recognize the dignity of every human being, as advocated by Bartolomé de las Casas in his book “A Brief Account of the Destruction of the Indies.” De las Casas, a friar who accompanied Cortez, became a voice for indigenous people in the Americas, emphasizing their humanity and universal human rights.
I strongly recommend this podcast “The Fall of the Aztecs” by Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook. As students and educators of history, we have opportunities to not only engage in learning and sharing about important and complex topics like this, but also chances to become “agents of cultural healing.” We can focus on amplifying not just tragedy and loss, but also hope and healing. It’s essential to confront real history, not just a whitewashed version, as both educators and citizens.
For those interested in connecting with me or learning more about my work, you can visit wesfryer.com/after. I have written a couple of books and aspire to publish more in the coming years. I wish everyone a great Thanksgiving holiday, and wherever you are in space and time, I send blessings your way.
Check out the video version of this blog post, which is 41 minutes long:
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