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Document Interpretation 1
The document I chose to interpret is titled Montezumas Greeting to Hernan Cortes. This
document appears to be part of Hernan Cortess letters written back to his people in Spain while
he was in Tenochtitlan. Hernan Cortes writes about meeting Moctezuma for the first time. When
Cortes tried to welcome Moctezuma with a friendly handshake/hug, Moctezumas two guards
held Cortes back. Moctezuma and Cortes exchanged necklaces, and then Moctezuma explained
to Cortes his thoughts about Cortess visit to Tenochtitlan. Moctezuma acknowledges the fact
that he and his people are not natives of Tenochtitlan, and that because Cortes came from a place
he believes to be his peoples homeland, Moctezuma will obey Cortess commands and also
provide Cortes and his people shelter. Moctezuma then asserts to Cortes that he is no different
from Cortess people (Spaniards) by showing Cortes his body, pointing out that he is human just
like Cortes and his people.
Initially, Moctezuma showed fear when he first met Cortes, which is made evident when
Moctezumas guards refrain Cortes from giving Moctezuma a handshake/hug. In regard to the
concept of the Other, Moctezuma initially addressed Cortes and his people as equals with a
little self-subordination. Moctezumas insecurity regarding newcomers fueled his initial
treatment of Cortes. After Cortes initiates an exchange of necklaces, Moctezumas fear of
newcomers subsides, yet he treats himself further with a higher degree self-subordination.
Moctezuma treats Cortes and his people as superiors because he believes that the Spaniards knew
about the Aztecs (Moctezumas people) when they first populated Tenochtitlan, and that there
was a high possibility that the Spaniards played a significant role in the Aztecs migration to
Tenochtitlan. Moctezuma also saw the Spaniards longer length of history as grounds for him to
class the Aztecs as subordinates. Moctezuma saw the Spaniards as people from Moctezumas

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ancestral homeland. Moctezuma acknowledges that he and the Aztecs are not natives of
Tenochtitlan, and for that reason, Moctezuma shared Tenochtitlan with Cortes and his people.