Ambivalent Conquest week 10

After having to look up the definition of ambivalent, I was able to understand why Clendinnen would choose 'Ambivalent Conquests' as her title in this textbook. The definition ambivalence indicates having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone. In the first chapter Clendinnen already introduces ambivalence, when the Spaniards had arrived on their land the Natives had shown "No sign of fear" (P.6) they demonstrated hospitality where the Spaniards were able to indicate that they were easily welcomed on their lands. The Spaniards were skeptical at this point, on one perspective they could believe the Natives were being genuine without any ulterior motives although another perspective would be the opposite. Not knowing what to expect the Spaniards could not show fear on their behalf, "...there could be no question of refusal: honour, curiosity and avarice drove them on" (P.7) the Spaniards moved forward although cautiously. The Spaniards then had been immediately attacked and fooled by the Native's friendliness and hospitality. Clendinnen demonstrates the ambivalence between the Spaniards and Natives; this attack could have been avoided although the Spaniards were unsure of what the right motives of the Natives were and the decisions that should have been made.