Stern & Black Legend

The Black Legend portrays Natives as victims who had been brutally mistreated and the Spaniards as cold-blooded individuals striving for conquest. Although Stern may negate this myth by emphasizing the importance of economy and tribute that was important for not only the Spaniards although the Natives as well. Stern also indicates, “Colonials raped women, commandeered the labors of relatives for secondary tasks, and set impossible production quotas to force mitayos to utilize the labors of their families” (Pg. 84) although these conditions may be for economic benefits it is not morally right. The natives had suffered and worked through harsh conditions and no economic benefit is worth the sufferings they encountered through labor and their work-force. While Stern may argue that the even Natives partook in these conditions for their own gains it cannot neglect the fact that other Natives were victims during this economical change. The Black Legend focuses on the mistreatment of the Natives while Stern is able to justify by looking at both perspectives and benefits. 

Week 14- Stern and the Black Legend

Stern focuses on the economic structure that the Spanish, specifically, Toledo imposed. The relations between the Spanish and the Indian had some changes. The violent tactics imposed on the Indians from the Spanish may seem like the Black Legend which argues that the Spanish are evil and the natives are weak. The Spanish as always are seeking to gain the most economic benefit as possible even if it requires violent tactics. The mitas were in a brutal relationship with the Spanish (84). For example, the working conditions for the natives were exhausting, long, and sweaty to the point where the health of natives was negatively impacted with diseases.  Yet again, the system wasn’t completely negative and Stern proves this by discussing the role of the natives and their economic gains. Stern argues that the natives also took economic advantage out of the situations. They were able to “exploit commercial opportunities” to maintain their self-sufficiency (89). This proves that the natives were not as the Black Legend would portray them. The effects were not the same for all the natives. The kurakas adapted to such system because it could still benefit them and their ayllus. When Sterns explains how the economy functioned it seems, as it were another extreme for the kinship philosophy that the economic system for the natives relied on. There was a creation of a new political hierarchy was the natives did participate as well. it was necessary for the Spanish to rely on political relationships with the natives to be able to take the most out of the state’s benevolence.  

Week 14 Post

Stern does support the black legend in his book. He wrote about it in the book as a truth, rather than a myth. Stern wrote about how the Indians were mistreated, treated poorly, taken advantage of. The Mita being one of these people that mistreated the Indians. “The mitas the most dreaded of the Toledan institutions” (p.103). They would not abuse the Indians physically but mentally when they would separate families ever two months due to the “labor draft”. In order to have Indians comply with the labor drafts the Corregidor would have to often rely to violence to make the Indians obey.

“Violent discipline. then, severed essential fun essential functions without which colonial relationships could not survive” (p.104). The Spanish used violence as to show who had power and keep the Indians in discipline. Stern used the example of the fisher man refusing to give fresh fish and being sent to jail and then later hung not before giving him fifty back beatings. The Spanish had to install fear in those who would go against them and make an example of them so that no one would try to disobey them. Stern gives good examples when it comes to giving examples that the black legend did exist and it was not just a myth. 

Stern and the Black Legend

In Stern's analysis of Toledo's reforms for a capitalist economy, the colonials and native elite exploited the natives for their labor. The mitayos' forced labor under harsh conditions, as seen in the mines of Castrovirreyna offer support of the Black Legend. Colonials raped women and used mitayos' families for labor and other tasks. (p. 84) The new rotation system often caused overlapping of mitayos rotation terms and would have to wait for payment before they could return home to their own land and fields. The reforms also made it difficult for mitayos to manage their own fields during the absence and affected their self-sufficiency. The subordination of the natives due to the reforms and the greed of the encomenderos in order to maintain this economic society shows Stern's support of the Black Legend.

Not only do we see evidence of the Black Legend in the dynamic of the capitalist economy, we can see it in the ways the colonials showed their dominance in society. “Noise, threats, bribes, violence, sabotage, shows of prestige, even rituals of domination – all constituted regular, necessary part of exploitative relationships,” (p. 102). Many native laborers would not comply with the mita and would be jailed. In some situations, such as the hanging of ten Yauyos Indians in Ocopampa ordered by a judge, violent discipline was necessary in order to maintain these colonial relationships. (p. 104)

The dynamic of the society based upon a capitalist economy in the Huamanga region certainly supports the Black Legend in Stern's argument from the harsh conditions, unfair legality towards the natives, and violent acts to maintain colonial dominance.

Violence in Colonial Peru

            In his book, Peru’s Indian Peoples and the Challenge of Spanish Conquest, Steve J. Stern agrees that the Spanish were cruel to the natives however he explains it as necessary in order to obtain the tribute and labor desired from them.  The Spanish colonizers came to Peru seeking gold and other precious metals.  When they found the land rich in mercury and silver they set about to extract as much as possible.  First, they set up alliances with the Andeans which called for a set amount of tribute in silver, textiles, and food stuff.  Since mining was a dirty, hazardous, labor intensive endeavor which was seen as too menial a task for the colonial elite, it was required that the natives provide the mining labor.

            Since the natives had proven resistant to tribute and labor collection, the Spanish found it necessary to force them to comply.  Many kurakas would hold onto the tributes until forced to give it up.  The Spanish officials often found threats were not enough motivation to secure compliance from the natives.  In these circumstances, the officials resorted to beatings, jailing, and sequestration of property to motivate the natives (page 103).  In Andahuaylas the corregidor locked up kurakas and confiscated their property when they refused to send laborers to fill the labor drafts.  There were also extreme cases, such as in Ocopampa where a judge hanged ten natives in order to restore the peace and stop native resistance to the labor draft (page 104).

            Spanish cruelty did not stop with the fulfillment of tribute and labor demands.  Many used cruelty when they felt their authority was threatened.  For example, when a native fisherman refused to give fresh fish to the corregidor of Castrovirreyna he was thrown into jail, whipped upside down, and had his hair cut (page 104).  Even priest would use violence to get what they wanted.  One priest even carried a gun on his person (page 106). 

            Stern disagrees with the idea that the natives were helpless against the Spanish onslaught.  On the contrary, he shows how the natives resisted Spanish efforts to collect labor and tribute.  The Andeans often played one Spanish official’s greed against another’s by explaining to the local authority that if laborers were sent to distant mines there would be fewer workers to fulfill his labor requirements (page 103).  The Spanish had to constantly maintain their guard for the natives did not hesitate to use violence when the opportunity arose.  For example in 1547 a prominent colonist was killed by a stone thrown by a native and in 1567 a well-known colonial was killed by his native guide while traveling through the mountains (page 106).  These and other acts made the Spanish afraid of an open uprising.  This fear drove them to continue to use acts of cruelty to keep the natives in line.  As Stern said, “Neither colonizer nor colonized could escape the violent tenor of life inherent in their socioeconomic relationship” pages 104, 106).

Week 14 Prompt

Stern does not portray the black legend the same way previous authors have; instead he highlights how the Spanish and Incas were able to coexist together in Andean society. The Spanish did not so much mistreat the natives as did they set up a labor system in which patronage and goods were exchanged. He is able to demonstrate this on page 38 where he mentions how the two sides worked in harmony to boost personal economic interests, “By 1547, Indian workers and traders had captured an impressive share of the Mayomarca gold dust in exchange for their services and products(38). This is able to dispel the black legend because of the peaceful exchange between the two sides, and the Spanish did not mistreat natives as the legend mentions. In fact Stern goes on to mention that the native leaders went on to take advantage of the Spanish who were seeking tribute, not the Spanish taking advantage of the natives as the legend portrays. The Spanish did mistreat the natives in their pursuit of tribute, as they commanded from allyus. The karakas helped nurture this relationship forcing the tribute as to secure their interests amongst the Spanish. What stood out even more from the Stern text was the acceptance of the native religion and their deities by the Spanish. As previous authors have mentioned the Spanish pushed their faith and Christianity on the native peoples quickly on arrival however Stern mentions another perspective the Spanish had. “Given the impact of a people’s ancestor gods on the fortunes of the living, an alliance with victorious Spaniards dictated an alliance with their deities (39).” The Spanish brought their religion to the region but were not as intolerant to native beliefs, as in different parts of the new world.

Week 14

Stern’s book, Peru’s Indian Peoples and the Challenge of Spanish Conquest, does indeed focus partly in the Black Legend dealing with Spanish Cruelty. In Chapter Four, The Political Economy of Colonialism, Stern gives great examples of how the natives felt abused by the Spanish settler’s cruelties. Under the new system set up by Toledo, natives were forced to work for a season for the Spanish settlers and in return they would receive payment for their time worked in the settler’s mine, farm, or mill (84).

However, this system was seen unfair to the native workers, who would have to leave their farmland for a season without being able to tend it when they would be working for the settlers. Many of these workers brought supplies and food with them so they would not go into debt when having to purchase items at their new working place at inflated prices. Some workers, mitayos,  even brought family members along with them to help take care of them while they worked long days in the fields, mines, or mills. These family members would not be able to help the one working in the fields but would be able to help out by preparing meals for the workers. Stern also mentions that “colonials raped women, commandeered the labors of relatives for secondary tasks, and set impossible production quotes to force mitayos to utilize the labors of their families (84).”  Thus not only did the colonials take advantage of the mitayos but also all of those who came with him. With these impossible work hours and horrible conditions it is no wonder that the mitayos did not want to do work for the Spanish (84).

The settlers’ who received the labor of the mitayos would often try to get as much labor out of the mitayos as possible. The mitayos would sometimes be worked so hard that it would cause their health to greatly diminish and become very ill. Many workers would even die from illness caused by exhaustion, mercury poisoning, and overworking. “Long, hard work in dangerous conditions pressed in on health. Back breaking, sweaty mine labor in high cold climates…invited pneumonia and respiratory ailments (Stern 84).”  Stern reconfirms his assertion that the mitayos health was greatly affected by not only dangerous conditions and unruly work hours but by the unwelcoming climate the mitayos were forced to work in. He also mentions that “Many miners who contracted the mercury sickness did not die quickly, but suffered long, debilitating illnesses (84-85).” Often times the illness would last up to two years if the victim was lucky. If the victim managed to live they would often times be left physically disabled as a result of having lived though they mercury poisoning caused by labor in the mines.

In conclusion we can see that that harsh, unrealistic work conditions, along with “impossible quotas” caused the mitayos to become victims of the Spanish’s cruelty due to Toledo’s new plan of how the natives would work to support colonists plantations, mills, and mines production.

Stern's View on the Black Legend

Stern skirts around explicitly discussing the Black Legend, but instead chooses to allude to it when analyzing the exploitative techniques of the encomenderos, priests, and Crown officials.  He argues that the Spanish themselves are any more or less naturally greedy or born predators who live of the weakness and frailty of the natives.  However, the economic structure in which they are placed is built on "inherent brutalities," where "extractive institutions and relationships required the repeated application of coercive energies simply to reproduce themselves"(102).  While at first it appeared to be ideal to have a designated allotment of native laborers, this model came with intrinsic flaws: often the laborers lived far from their worksite, disease and malnutrition was quickly diminishing the labor force (further increasing the labor shortage), and the mitayos did not receive enough compensation to support themselves, thus increasing the disillusionment and reluctance to work.  Since under the new centralized mita system encomenderos were not allowed to make private labor contracts with kurakas, they were even more dependent on a labor force that was dissatisfied, sick, and often didn't even show up when they felt that the encomenderos were not politically strong enough.  While under the post-Incaic alliance agreements allyus were generally receiving the raw end of the deal, at least they could negotiate for the best option available.  With the new system in place, the only method of reinforcement of the repartimientos open to the encomenderos was coercion and punishment.

Not only were other options unavailable to the encomenderos, but these tactics were rewarded with profits.  the corrupt governmental structure and its methods of labor distribution were such that "political weight and skill determined one's spoils" (100).  By making their workers dependent on the government for labor, this encouraged corruption and collusion between landowners and officials.  When a mere 20 people legally controlled 41% of the labor force, it follows logically that competition for mitayos, and maximizing the productivity of their meager supply would encourage cutthroat and cruel tactics among the rest of the encomenderos.

There is nothing intrinsic of the Spaniards that made them cruel to the Indians; they did not thrive on the pitiful cries of their subservient, powerless laborers.  However it is difficult to argue that reducing the natives to peasantry and exploiting every available resource without reciprocity did not negatively affect the native populations.  The very nature of their economic model encouraged these tactics, and rewarded a handful of successful coercers.  Stern seems to be saying blame the system, not its followers.

Stern and the Black Legend

Stern's relationship to the Black Legend is that he supports it in this section of the book.  We spend about half of this section learning about the mita and all the cruel, backbreaking labor that goes along with it.  This is one example of a passage about mitayos working in the mercury mines of Huancavelica: 

"In Huancavelica, poor ventilation, mercury vapor, and mercury-rich dust conspired to make poisoning a terrifying reality.  Many miners who contracted the mercury sickness did not die quickly, but suffered long, debilitating illnesses.  The malady ulcerated the respiratory tract, infected blood and bones with mercury, induced bouts of trembling, fever, and paralysis, and slowly led some victims to a merciful death.  Those who survived or held off death for a year or two lived on in their home communities, disabled in varying degrees, visible reminders of the horrors of mitayo labor in Huancavelica." (85)

And that does not even sum up what Stern believes the Spanish did to these people.  He talks about how these laborers often ended up in debt because of low wages and how they had to be separated from their families for months at a time which affected family farming units.  I would say that all of this definitely supports the Black Legend. 

Week 14: Stern/Black Legend

Steve J. Stern's book, Peru's Indian Peoples and the Challenge of Spanish Conquest, helps to support the ideas of the Black Legend, making it seem more like the truth than a myth.  Stern shows throughout his work that the Indigenous peoples of Peru were treated cruelly, and taken advantage of, by the Spaniards.  One example of this is the economy of Colonial Peruvian society.  The reforms of Francisco de Toledo brought many burdens upon the Indians.  Toledo's transformation of the mita tradition led to the exploitation of many Indians.  Though the system of labor rotation was not new to Andean peoples, the Spanish version was much more demanding than anything that came before.  Aside from the intense labor they were forced to perform for the Colonials, Mitayos were also required to make to tributes to the Spaniards.  Stern writes: "they [Indians] would have to make good on tributes even in years of poor harvests.  In effect, the community would have to dip into harvests or warehouses assigned to local subsistence" (84).  Giving away their own crop supply, especially during rough years, was one factor which weakened the Indigenous community.  Another factor was the grueling labor required of the mitayos, which often left them too weakened to carry out their duties within their own communities (Stern, 89).  On top of this, remunerations given to the mitayo for his work were almost never sufficient to support his family (Stern, 87).  This exploitation of Indian laborers and communities, according to Stern, was one of the ways in which the Spanish took advantage of Peru's Indian peoples and destroyed their societies.

Another example of Spanish cruelty which Stern touches upon is the use of violence.  Even with the economic disadvantages imposed upon them, Indigenous Peoples showed great reserve and adaptability, which allowed some Indian communities to survive as relatively autonomous and prosperous units (Stern, 91).  This meant they did not need comply with the mita labor system, which upset Toledo.  He began to use force to make them do so.  Stern points to one occasion when Indians in Ocopampa showed resistance to labor drafts.  This resulted in the hanging of ten Indians (104).  Stern describes the significance of violence to the Spanish: "they [Colonials] had to use physical punishment and humiliation as a living tool, a genuine threat, whose public display would prod natives into submitting to their political superiors" (104).  Through his descriptions of the economic exploitation and acts of force used by the Spanish against Indians in Peru, Stern supports the idea that the aspects which make up the Black Legend are not myths, but are indeed very real truths.

Stern's Mythbusting: Peruvian Edition

Stern definitively supports Restall's arguments, in that the Andeans were far from crushed by the superiority, weaponry and sheer willpower of the armed entrepreneurs.  For a time, the Andeans even held the upper hand in negotiations between the two groups.  From the first contact, the Spaniards are complying with the kurakas' terms.  Nearly all labor contracts were established through the pre-existing system, as it "seemed more feasible to the colonials to base their extraction upon long-standing Andean traditions" (40).  While it makes some logical sense to not want to rock the boat, from a business standpoint the encomenderos were setting themselves up for trouble.  When a company is bought, the new owners almost always install their own management team to ensure that their own policies are being carried out, and to basically prevent mutiny within the company by the old management.  The fact that the Spanish left the old system in place for nearly 40 years after entering the Andes suggests that not only was the Andean system productive and efficient, but that the Spanish did not have the manpower or political strength to reinforce any policy changes.  This alone belies any assertion that the natives were cowed into submission and were completely subservient.  Their own actions contradict any claims of superiority that the Spanish made.

Stern's writing style and assertions are very similar to Restall's book, without the catchy title and cover art.  While Restall generally focuses his arguments as they applied in Mesoamerica, Stern focuses solely on Andean societies, and spends more time on the details of social and economic interactions.  Both authors are writing for a similar purpose with different methods: Restall attacks the misconceptions based on how they have been formed and perpetuated in the past 400 years, while Stern addresses these fallacies in a more subtle fashion and provides specific historical evidence of what actually was occurring on the ground.  Each has their own method, but they both aim towards a similar goal.

Week 14

I feel like Restall and Stern contrast a lot when it comes to the discussion of the Black Legend. When Restall discusses the Conquest and Colonialization of the South Americas, he describes it in a way such that the perception that people had was that it was incredibly easy for the Spaniards. However, as Restall continues he explains that this take over was not as easy as perceived. Restall explains through his text that the conquest was not as easy as it appeared, and that there were many native factors that had to do with this glorious take over (from the Spaniard prospective) I think that this kind of idea is shared in the Black Legend, in the sense that things were not as nice and clean as perceived. The Black Legend speaks to the harsh reality of what the conquest was like, as well as the religious influences that played a huge part of the conflict not only with the natives, but the Spaniards themselves. The Black Legend was also known for spreading propaganda throughout Europe promoting the assimilation of the Native Culture, and promoting the spread of Christianity in a positive way. Restall’s view of what actually happened is very Black Legend-esk, and I would have to agree. Conflict is not good between two kinds of people, but especially within the same side of a conflict.  

Post 13

Stern does support some of the same arguments that Restall makes in his book. Stern makes comparisons to the myth of the white conquistador. Stern starts his second chapter by claiming that “easy conquests create false mystiques” (27). Stern focuses more on the economic strategies that the Andean people used to their advantage. He explains that communities and ethnic groups hoped that allying with the Europeans it would help in their personal benefits. For example, the Lucanas were complaining that neighboring groups were intruding in their hunting space. With European help they could obtain a legal document to preserve their rights. The alliances offered more such as being free from Inca rule and special privileges to karakas (34). It is very interesting because Restall claims that the Spanish play an important role both secondary ones as agents of native ambition because the Spanish seem unaware of its incompleteness (46). This also goes with the myth of completion that the Spaniards had conquered the big great empires. Stern has gone into great details in the kinship social structure the Andean had before the Spanish came in. The Spanish did not try to change their system as long as they got their own profit out of it. We can see the example of Diego Maldonado as a very generous Spaniards who did not mind helping out the Andeans. Essentially, ecomenderos needed to have stable relationships with the natives so that they could have a stable economy in terms of labor and tribute (38). Sterns languages tends to portray the natives in a positive light. 

Week 13 Blog Post

In Peru's Indian Peoples and the Challenge of Spanish Conquest, Steve Stern supports some of the paradigms Restall identifies in Seven Myths. In much of Chapter 2, Rise and Demise of Post Incaic Alliances, Stern discusses the relationship between the natives and the encomenderos. Both groups relied on each other; Spaniards needed Indian labor and tribute, and natives wanted protection by Spaniards from native enemies. Stern also discusses the relationship between the kurakas and the encomendero elite. The kurakas provided the encomendero with a labor force as seen on page 41. Both kurakas and natives would received gifts and/or benefits depending on the encomendero.

As colonial society in Huamanga was beginning to falter, Juan de Matienzo's treaty of “the governing of Peru” outlined the major steps in order to reaffirm and establish society. (p. 72) First and foremost, he did not solely focuses on the wants of the encomenderos. Matienzo wanted to defend the natives and wished them no harm. He wanted to combine elements and interests of both natives and European society that would work together as one. Much of his treaty would incorporate natives.

Stern supports the paradigms that Restall discusses, and particularly the myth of exceptional men and the myth of native desolation. Spaniards relied heavily on natives, as we can see with the relationship between encomenderos and kurakas. This goes to show that natives were not “wiped out” or desolated, but were incorporated in some ways, especially for economic purposes. Stern's major interest is the economic factor in colonial society.

Stern & Handfull of Adventurers

Stern does support the theories and myths that Restall had introduced to us. The one myth that Stern supports is that the Spanish conquest was not completed with a handful of Spaniards. He agrees that the support from native allies and Africans contributed significantly to the conquest.  Stern demonstrates that both Spaniards and Indians in some way needed each other for example building or trying to produce a better economy and/or riches. Stern indicates, “By securing cooperative relations with native elites and societies, an aspiring ruling class of encomenderos laid the foundation for a colonial economy and society…” (Pg.35) this gave opportunities to native individuals such as the Kurakas to join forces with the Spaniards. For some Native individuals this was an opportunity of profit and power which drove some natives towards the Spaniards. Stern gives recognition to native allies and Africans in regards to the conquest just as Restall did simply because it provided benefits for both sides. Stern and Restall both indicate that with the aid of native allies together they were able to defeat the Americas.

Stern and the Myth of Native Desolation

            Just like Restall, Steve J. Stern in his book, Peru’s Indian Peoples and the Challenge of Spanish Conquest, challenged the myth of native desolation.  This myth claims that natives were helpless against the Spanish onslaught.  Its roots come from the Black Legend which had two parts—Spanish cruelty and native victimhood.  As Stern explains, the natives of the Andean highlands were not simply overrun by the Spanish.  They were able to adapt to the European presence and crave out a niche for themselves in colonial Peru. 

            To the Spanish settlers the natives appeared open to Christianity.  This was due to the fact that historically in the native Andean culture they tried to control, obligate, or appease the gods of the victors.  Since the Spanish defeated the Inca, the Andeans were willing to ally themselves with the Spanish and their “deities.”  Since the natives were polytheistic, the acceptance of Christianity did not necessitate the abandonment of their traditional gods (page 39). 

            The economy of colonial Peru was based on labor intensive industries such as mining, agriculture and textile manufacturing, therefore the Spanish made deals with the kurakas to extract tribute and labor from the natives (pages 40-41).  During the early days of the colony, the Spanish settlers had to respect some of the traditional ways the natives dealt with “taxes” and labor requirements.  For example, “households continued to retain exclusive rights to crops produced on ayllu lands for local use; to pay tribute, households and ayllus contributed labor time on other lands specifically designated to satisfy outside claimants” (page 40).  This was not the typical European style of tribute. 

In this book Stern did not elaborate on the military resistance of the natives.  However, when the natives actively resisted the Spanish, they used European technology and strategies.  For example, when the Huancas prepared for an anti-colonial war they set up factories to produce Spanish pikes and battle-axes (page 70).  Even though the Spanish eventually bent most of the natives to their will, the natives retained their identity and were not decimated.

Prompt week 14

It turns out I had posted last week's prompt on the wrong class blog! So here it is for week 14:

What is Stern's relationship to the Black Legend? Please remember to use specific examples from the readings to discuss your answer.

Myth busting by Stern

In Stern's book, we see multiple places where the paradigms presented by Restall are supported. The idea of the white only conquistador is shattered when both of these authors present us with people of mixed race as well as African as part of the coalition. Both authors understood the importance of non-Spanish men that made the voyage and were trying to make themselves greater. Another huge agreement these two authors make, as many of my peers have already pointed out, is the dispelling of the myth that there was little communication between the Spanish and the Natives. In fact there was a great amount of communication and many ecomenderos were able to communicate with their kuraks. Many of these ecomenderos gave presents and tribute to their nearby native to "cement alliances with favors and gifts."(Stern 31) These tributes as well as the communication and relationship they cultivated between the two sides helps us understand that this was a much more integrated, and less militaristic conquest of the Andeans compared to the conquer of other Native american Indian civilizations.

I agree heavily with Timothy in his comment on this prompt, he states that Sterns desire and zeal to convince us the length of the communication between the two sides could be considered its own myth.
The myth of miscommunication is disproved in Stern's book, but the idea that the two people understood each other flawlessly is a myth of its own. He also strongly argues the quick integration of capitalism into the Andean culture which is something that is less argued, yet very interesting.

Another argument that dispels a myth of "a hand full of adventurers" was the idea that the Spanish government, and its colonization itself, deterred the interworks of the Indian economy and culture, making them more dependent on the Spanish. "The fertilizing impulse of Spanish colonial penetration now encouraged the embryo of class contradiction to grow, develop, producing, as a poisonous by-product, a crisis of confidence in the old ways that weakened the internal unity of the native community life." (Stern 58) This split, where the people start to feel betrayed by their leaders, due to their leaving of the old ways, and using the Spanish to better their personal and family gains rather than those of the whole community drove gaps between the locals and a "divide and conquer" layout for the Spanish. It is easier to defeat a foe that is fighting itself.

week 12
Conrad and Demerest obviously have strong feeling about the way in which religion influenced the development and fall of the Aztec empire. They go to great lengths to dismantle material arguments about food and land in order to highlight what they see as the root of the collapse, religion. Stern focuses his first page to paint a picture in the readers mind of the landscape and climate. He talks about the way in which various elevations allow for only certain crops and how climate also changes drastically with those elevations further isolating the way in which these people can live. He mentions that the isolation of various families necessitated self sufficiency in regards to artisanship [4]. Only after he has established a scene does he move onto religion. he makes it clear that he sees the religion as having been influenced by the landscape and the need for communities to work together to create a lasting self sufficient nation.[9] so Stern may argue that Conrad and Demerest while making valid arguments about why the collapse happened, they may have ignored the material reasons why the religion developed in the way that they did, and what influenced the need for elevated levels of sacrifice.

Week 13 Post

Through the reading assigned for this week, in Peru’s Indian Peoples and the Challenge of Spanish Conquest: Huamanga to 1640, Steve Stern supports some of the paradigms that Restall identifies as myths.

            At various points throughout the reading, examples can be found of stern supporting such paradigms. For example, when Stern observes that the "Spaniards' need to cultivate the loyalty of local Indian societies to defend the European presence against Inca encroachments" (Stern 28), one is reminded of Restall’s Myth of Exceptional Men as Spaniards, such as Pizarro, relied on native alliance to remain afloat. Surely, without the support of natives who rivaled the Incas, the few Spaniards in the area at the time would not have been able to survive in the initial stages of the Conquest. Furthermore, when Stern writes that forming a coalition with the Spaniards provided Inca rivals with security (Stern 34), one is reminded of the Myth of the White Conqueror, as one can deduce that the Conquest in that region of the America’s was not accomplished by a few white Europeans, instead it  required native cooperation. Moreover, when reading that "miners bent upon achieving riches sought to maximize their exploitation of native laborers" (Stern 47) caused a second-guessing of Spanish alliance after discovery of rich mines in the 1560s (Stern 47), the Myth of Native Desolation is echoed, for if natives felt they were indeed defeated in all senses, they wouldn't have bothered to complain to the point where reforms were made.

The Millenarianism issue, which touches on the myths of native desolation, and completion, among others, hasn't even been addressed. While Stern may not agree on everything Restall thinks, it’s safe to say he indeed supports some of the paradigms that Restall identifies as myths.

Week 13 Prompt

Week 13 Prompt

I think that the Stern used similar examples of myths as Restall did. Stern discussed and used examples to explain the relationship that the natives had with the Spaniard’s.  Some natives used the new relationship that was formed in between the Spanish and Native Indians to their advantage by taking part in the new economy with the new market in coca plantations. While some Indians saw this as an advantage other natives resisted. This is similar to Restall’s point when it comes to the native Indians and spanish having an alliance but then there is that clash with the Indians that are against the alliance due to the fact of the belief ideology clash.

Stern also goes into the different sections of the myths and explains and gives examples of each one just like Restall. Stern discusses the myths that eventually weakened the Native Indian culture and led to the “conquest” of the Spanish over the Indians. Restall also discussed myths on the “conquest” of the Spanish over the Native Indians. But these examples and views are just myths that both Stern and Restall share in the books that both authors have written. 

Week 13: Stern/ Restall

In Peru's Indian Peoples and the Challenge of Spanish Conquest, Steve J. Stern supports some of the paradigms identified as myths by Mathew Restall in Seven Myths of the Spanish Conquest.  One of the most notable myths which Stern supports is Restall's myth of "native desolation." Restall identifies this myth as the belief that Indigenous societies entered a state of complete alienation and confusion as a result of the collapse of their original structures and systems.  This creates the idea that native civilizations, with no opportunity to assimilate themselves into the new system, were crushed under the new order of the Spaniards.  Restall believes this to be false however, as he claims native responses to invasion were varied.  He writes: "native cultures proved resilient and adaptive, and many natives, especially elites, found opportunity in the Conquest-era transition" (102).

Stern supports Restall's views on "native desolation" throughout most of his book.  In the chapters describing post-Incaic Andean civilization, Stern describes the way many natives did not simply fall into a state of despair following Spanish conquest, but looked to adjust to the ways of the new society.  Many tribes felt they could benefit from allying themselves with the Spanish.  Stern writes: "local societies of Huamanga saw positive benefits in an alliance with the Europeans.  They could finally break the yoke of Inca rule, and advance ethnic interests in a new, post-Incaic era" (30).  Another example of Indian assimilation is the economy.  Some natives sought to take advantage of the opportunities present within the new Spanish economy.  Stern writes: "colonial society offered new possibilities to dissatisfied individuals willing to abandon or loosen ties with allyu society...The brisk commerce in coca led Indian entrepreneurs, especially the kurakas, to join Spaniards in setting up private coca plantations" (38).  Other Indians decided to resist Spanish rule.  The rebel neo-Incans led raids against the Spanish, and soon allied themselves with the Taki Onqoy movement, hoping this would help them to crush Spanish rule (Stern 71).  From Stern's writings, it is clearly shown that native society did not fall into a desolate state following Spanish invasion, but rather sought to adjust, in varying ways, to the new structure created by Spanish rule.  This supports Restall's views of "native desolation" being nothing more than a myth.