Historical Book Review - Amvialent Conquests: Maya and Spaniard in Yucatan, 1517-1570 (new York: Cambridge University Press, 1987)

Historical Book Review

Inga Clendinnen, Ambivalent Conquests: Maya and Spaniard in Yucatan, 1517-1570 (New York: Cambridge University Press, 1987)

        Inga Clendinnen has written an engrossing historical narrative that not only presents a genuine depiction of the events for which the book is named, but serves as an exploration of the diverse array of motivations that drove these events to fruition. Like any good historical investigation, the book attempts to give both sides of the story. It portrays the conditions and viewpoints of both the Spanish as well those who would ultimately become subservient to them through conquest – the Indians.

        True to Inga Clendinnen’s apparent tendencies as a writer of historical literature, Ambivalent Conquests is as much of an examination of cultural views and paradigms as it is a recounting of historical proceedings. Oftentimes, the description of an action or occurrence is accompanied by believable conjecture as to the mentalities of those affected. For instance, a good portion of the first chapter describes the progressively disastrous events that led to the failure of Herdandez de Córdoba’s ragtag expedition and his death as a result of it. The reader is subsequently introduced to one of the key factors in driving further expansion and colonization despite the undoubted hardships faced by early explorers and settlers: the prospect of gold. Dr. Clendinnen then astutely accounts for this near-fanatical fixation on the part of the Spanish by postulating that “… for many [Spaniards], gold’s luster lay not in its power to summon material goods, nor (although this was more important) in its capacity to dazzle lesser men: it derived its radiance from the dreams of a liberty and independence of action possible only in a new and transformed world” (p. 13).

        The first two-thirds of the book more or less focuses on depicting the chronological passing of significant events while giving insight into the thoughts and feelings of those chiefly involved. Largely through the eyes of the conquerors, this part of the book details the progression of the Spanish colonization – ranging from exploration, to conquest, to missionary work – that ultimately resulted in the tragic subjugation and eventual demise of the region’s distinctive indigenous population and culture. An understandable limitation of this particular piece of literature owes to the fact that it provides only a cursory glimpse into the mundane comings and goings of typical Spanish colonists during this time period; electing instead to focus on the thoughts and actions of key groups and individuals. The last third of the book is centered on the standpoint of the Indians and adopts a more contemplative style of writing, which provides a refreshing contrast to the narrative approach that Clendinnen initially takes. There is an evident inequality, in terms of length and scope, between the section on Spaniards (Part I) and the section on Indians (Part II). It is important, however, to note that history is often something that is written by the victors (in this case the Spanish), especially when the written language of the conquered people is relatively underdeveloped. With this in mind, the level of attention Clendinnen gave to the plight of the Indians in her book is at least unsurprising if not genuinely admirable.