Anon10/14/25, 00:57No.18071234
You don't need to think the Spanish in general are bad, but many Spanish writers who actually studies and interacted with Mesoamerican civilizations agreed that the amount of destroyed art, cities, literature, etc was a bad thing and excessive, or at least was unfortunateSahagun:
>...[the Mesoamericans] were so utterly trampled upon and destroyed...that no resemblance was left of what they were before. So now they are considered as barbarians... when in reality, in matters of governance...they are far ahead of many other nations that presume to be highly civilized...all nations...set their eyes on those who are wise...powerful...[virtuous]...skilled...the Greeks. [Romans], Spaniards, French, and Italians...the same was [true of Indigenous civilizations, especially the Aztec]Acosta:
>Among the [Mesoamerican civilizations] there is great knowledge...they [had writing] and books...in which...[calendrics, natural histories, customs were recorded]...[Diego de Landa burned many Maya books]...which was regretted...not only by [the Mayas]...but by curious Spaniards...The same fate has befallen other things...[leading to the[ loss of [much knowledge]...This happens out of unhealthy zeal...of those who...indiscriminately dub everything witchcraft and [doubt the Indigenous people's knowledge]...those who have...[investigated] these matters [properly] have found many [worthwhile things]Diaz:
>Our astonishment was indeed raised...all these buildings resembled [things from fairy tales]...so high, majestic, and splendid...all built of massive stone and lime, [rising] up out of the midst of the lake... it is impossible to speak coolly of things which we had never seen...heard...nor...dreamt of...I do not believe a country was ever discovered which was equal in splendour...But, at the present moment, there is not a vestige of all this remaining...not a stone of this beautiful town is now standingetc
