Exam 14: New Encounters: the Creation of a World Market

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Alfonso I may refer to several historical figures, as it is a name shared by various monarchs and nobles throughout history. Here are a few notable individuals known as Alfonso I:

1. Alfonso I of Asturias (739-757): Also known as Alfonso the Catholic, he was the third King of Asturias, a kingdom in the northwestern part of the Iberian Peninsula. He is credited with beginning the Christian Reconquista of Spain from the Moors.

2. Alfonso I of Aragon (1073-1134): Also known as Alfonso the Battler, he was the King of Aragon and Navarre. He is known for his military campaigns against the Moors in the Ebro valley and his efforts to expand his kingdom's territory.

3. Alfonso I of Portugal (1109?-1185): Also known as Alfonso Henriques or Alfonso the Conqueror, he was the first King of Portugal after declaring independence from the Kingdom of León. He played a significant role in the Reconquista and the establishment of the Portuguese state.

4. Alfonso I d'Este (1476-1534): He was the Duke of Ferrara during the Renaissance. He was a patron of the arts and supported many artists and poets of his time.

5. Alfonso I of Kongo (1456-1543): Also known as Mvemba a Nzinga, he was the ruler of the Kingdom of Kongo, a historical kingdom in west-central Africa. He is known for his conversion to Christianity and his attempts to establish a Christian state in Africa.

The context in which the name Alfonso I is used would determine which of these historical figures, or possibly others not listed here, is being referred to.

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Hernán Cortés (1485 – December 2, 1547) was a Spanish conquistador who led an expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire and brought large parts of what is now mainland Mexico under the rule of the King of Castile in the early 16th century. Cortés was part of the generation of Spanish colonizers that began the first phase of the Spanish colonization of the Americas.

Born in Medellín, Spain, Cortés chose to pursue adventure and riches in the New World. He went to Hispaniola (modern-day Dominican Republic) and later to Cuba, where he gained a reputation as a leader and soldier. In 1519, he was granted permission by the Spanish governor of Cuba, Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar, to lead an expedition to explore and secure the interior of Mexico for colonization.

Upon arriving in Mexico, Cortés strategically aligned with some indigenous peoples against others, notably forming an alliance with the Tlaxcalans, who were enemies of the Aztecs. Through a combination of force, diplomacy, and treachery, he was able to capture Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec Empire. The Aztec emperor Montezuma II was taken prisoner and later died, and the city was eventually destroyed.

Cortés's actions led to the extensive Spanish conquest and colonization of the Americas. His military campaigns are significant for their innovative strategies and for the role they played in the establishment of Spanish rule in Mexico. However, his expeditions also brought about the demise of the indigenous civilizations and the beginning of a period of Spanish dominance that would last for centuries. Cortés's legacy is complex, as he is often seen as a brave and cunning leader, but also as a ruthless invader responsible for significant destruction and suffering among the native populations.