Chapter 11 The Kingdom of Yucatan Summary and Analysis

In 1526, Francisco de Montejo, a friend of Hernan Cortes, led the conquest in Yucatan. He made false claims at court to secure his position as governor. Yucatan was densely populated with a good climate and very productive. The people were highly civilized and the most virtuous of all their neighbors. When the Spaniards found there was no gold there, they enslaved the people and traded them for wine, oil, vinegar, salt pork, clothes, horses, or whatever else the governor and his men needed or wanted. The son of the chief was sold for cheese, and hundreds of other natives were sold for a single horse. This lasted from 1526 to 1533 and broke down the population. The people were given a break from the Spaniards when they heard that a lot of wealth was discovered...