We're sunsetting PodQuest on 2025-07-28. Thank you for your support!
Export Podcast Subscriptions
cover of episode Hernán Cortés and Malintzin (Radio Edit)

Hernán Cortés and Malintzin (Radio Edit)

2025/6/13
logo of podcast You're Dead to Me

You're Dead to Me
AI Deep Dive AI Chapters Transcript
People
A
Amy Fuller
G
Greg Jenner
J
Jen Brister
Topics
Amy Fuller: 我认为科尔特斯出生于1485年，是西班牙的小贵族，受过一些法律训练，但并不富裕。在1492年，哥伦布代表西班牙国王和王后航行，意外地发现了新世界。大约10到12年后，科尔特斯决定追随哥伦布的脚步，前往新世界寻求财富。他于1504年抵达伊斯帕尼奥拉岛，那里是当时在西印度群岛的行动基地。他们本应将当地人转化为基督教徒，但不应该奴役他们，但他们最终还是奴役了他们。 Greg Jenner: 我认为科尔特斯决定追随哥伦布的脚步，是因为他想在新世界寻求财富。他看到了哥伦布的成功，并希望自己也能在新世界获得财富和荣耀。他可能也受到了当时社会环境的影响，许多年轻人都梦想着去新世界冒险和发财。

Deep Dive

Chapters
This chapter explores Hernán Cortés's early life, background, and motivations for joining the expeditions to the New World. It covers his origins, education, early career in Hispaniola and Cuba, and his ambitious decision to lead an expedition to Mexico despite facing opposition from his superiors.
  • Cortés was a hidalgo (petty nobility) from Extremadura, Spain.
  • He gained experience in Hispaniola and Cuba before embarking on his Mexican expedition.
  • His expedition to Mexico was unauthorized, and he defied his superiors to pursue his ambitions.
  • He burned his ships upon arrival in Mexico, ensuring his men's commitment to the conquest.

Shownotes Transcript

Greg Jenner is joined in 16th-Century Mexico by Dr Amy Fuller and comedian Jen Brister to learn about Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés and his translator Malintzin.

In 1521, the powerful Aztec empire was brutally conquered by the Spanish, led by the ambitious and fanatical Hernán Cortés. After a falling-out with his boss in Cuba, Cortés disobeyed orders and led an expedition party into Mexico. He was helped in his conquest by local peoples who bore a grudge against the Aztecs, chief amongst them the woman who became his translator: Malintzin. A skilled linguist, Malintzin was given to Cortés upon his arrival in Mexico, but after gaining her freedom was central to Cortés’s success. The two even had a son together.

This episode tells the story of Cortés and Malintzin before, during and after the conquest, exploring how an Indigenous woman came to translate for a conquistador. From Malintzin’s murky childhood to Cortés’s desperate attempts to impress the king of Spain, via the rumours that he killed his first wife and the complicated politics of Mexico, we examine these two intertwined lives.

This is a radio edit of the original podcast episode. For the full-length version, please look further back in the feed.

Hosted by: Greg Jenner Research by: Aida Abbashar Written by: Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow, Emma Nagouse, and Greg Jenner Produced by: Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow and Greg Jenner Audio Producer: Steve Hankey Production Coordinator: Ben Hollands Senior Producer: Emma Nagouse Executive Editor: James Cook