Super Short Summary

Seven Myths of the Spanish Conquest by Matthew Restall challenges and deconstructs seven widely accepted myths about the Spanish Conquest of the Americas, critiquing the traditional narratives crafted by colonial writers and adopted by modern historians. Restall uses Spanish and Nahuatl primary sources, as well as Indigenous and African perspectives, to provide a fuller and more accurate account of Conquest history, emphasizing the roles of Indigenous allies, free and enslaved Africans, and other overlooked factors. The book urges readers to question accepted truths and place historical events in a broader context.