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.