The Epic Encounter of Montezuma and Cortés: Unveiling the True Impact of a Meeting that Changed History

Carlos Sansores: Una nueva comprensión de la figura de Moctezuma

Mexico on Sep 09, 2021

RakRD: Completed the book, not the best laid out storyline did not come a way satisfied.

Canada on Jan 10, 2021

smokestack: Have fun folks, you won't find a more unique perspective on Cortés in the entire historical literature.

Germany on Dec 18, 2020

Art Ramirez: As a direct descendant of both Cortes and Montezuma I was intrigued by the title of this book. Matthew Restall carefully unravels the mythology of the first meeting with Cortes and Montezuma leading eventually to the death of Montezuma and eventual Spanish Aztec war and destruction of the Aztec empire. Sadly it recalls the barbaric invasion of the Spanish to Meso-America and the death of millions of indigenous people through battle, European deseases, rape, pillage and enslavery. Painful at times to read what our ancestors did for eldorado!

United Kingdom on Jul 18, 2020

Henry Price (Hard Fried History): Awesome, asks all the questions that haven't been asked about the Cortesian narrative and masterfully uses contemporary documents to poke holes in the traditional story. It should be noted however, that this is NOT a biography of Montezuma or of Cortes, as it covers mostly the intersection of their representative cultures and examines how the historical record became distorted around their meeting and the motives the conquistadors had for distorting the record. I read this after reading a smaller biography of Montezuma and doing some individual research on him and enjoyed it more for that reason. Not necessarily an introductory history, more revisionist history at its finest. Important reading for someone already familiar with the central figures and events. Read for an episode of my podcast, Hard Fried History.

United States on Mar 27, 2020

Gift Card Recipient: For generations people have asked “how did a small band of adventurers conquer the massive and powerful Aztec Empire?” We ask the question because the claim seems so outrageous. At long last When Montezuma Met Cortés shows us just how outrageous that claim is. In the most thoroughly researched account of the “conquest” yet compiled, Restall reveals just how mistaken we have been about the conquest of the Aztecs. Cortés did not simply outsmart and outgun this extraordinary empire. What Cortés, and later historians, did was simplify and manipulate a story of incredible complexity so that the crown, and indeed history, would shower him with glory and power. This rich accounting of one of the most extraordinary events in history is the most important work on the conquest in living memory. When Montezuma Met Cortés replaces myth with a story that is far more fascinating and informative than the one we’ve been told.

United States on Jul 15, 2019

Dominic Martin: Excellent

Canada on Feb 19, 2019

Sherry Fields: Matthew Restall is right: our view of what happened "when Montezuma met Cortés" has been completely distorted by 5 centuries of mythmaking, misrepresentations, and outright fabrications, all centered on the larger-than-life figure of Cortés. Beginning with his letters to Carlos I in the 1520s, and the hagiography of him by Gómara shortly thereafter, Cortés's central role in the Conquest has been portrayed as one of complete control and mastery of the events that led to the fall of Tenochtitlan. Even as historical interpretations of Cortés have changed throughout the centuries--from a courageous deliverer of Christianity and civilization to a brutally violent and genocidal warmonger-- he is constantly portrayed as a brilliant, yet conniving, strategist, with perfect information, and in complete control of the events.

Restall's thoroughly researched book does two things brilliantly. One, he shows us, through what must have been an exhaustive reading of every narrative ever written about the Conquest since it happened more than 500 years ago, HOW the story became shaped and WHY it's been so hard to dislodge, even today. And two, he broadens our view of those events...

United States on Sep 21, 2018

Kindle Customer: An well researched and detailed evaluation of the Cortes and conquest of the Aztecs (with a little more). I found the detail and evaluation to be well done. I thoroughly enjoyed.

Only negative is I was surprised that author did not expand more on the idea of language differences and use of two translator chain. Author keeps harping that Cortes and others made up the story of the first meeting. But if the author is correct about the possible translation errors and misunderstandings at the Meeting(s), then it is highly likely that Cortez and others thought that a surrender occurred, even though that is probably not what happened. I found this small discussion probably the key to seeing how the story grew and morphed, with the reality being that Cortex and crew just got very lucky - which happens in war.

Moreover, despite the school history books, it is obvious from this author's research that Cortez did not defeat Montezuma and the Aztecs, but rather was a sub-commander to a larger Indian force that accompanied him on both trips to the capital. Reading the book, it brought to mind Julius Caesar and Gaul, where the lack of unity in Gaul allowed Caesar to divide, conquer...

United States on May 16, 2018