Machiavelli said that you want to rule with love and fear, but if one is lacking rule with fear. What do you think Machiavelli would think of the way the Spanish ruled the Natives?
I think Machiavelli would have agreed with the way the Spanish ruled the New World, because they scared the locals into submission. I think he might try to avoid killing off the indigenous population, because they can provide cheap labor.
I think that Machiavelli would agree that the Spanish handled the "fear" aspect of ruling very well, by scaring the Natives, killing them when they are no longer helpful. However, I think that Machiavelli would disagree with how the Spanish didn't even try to make peace with the Indians before immediately killing and mistreating them. The Spanish lack in the "love" aspect of ruling. Also, the Natives, as Ethan said, could be useful to the Spanish for cheap work, or to teach the Spanish how to live off the land. The Spanish didn't think through their strategy before mistreating and murdering the Natives.
I think that Machiavelli would have agreed with the ways the spanish attacked and took over the Natives. They attacked ruthlessly and tricked the Natives into thinking they were going to end the battle, a false love. The natives believed this trap and were defeated, causing them to fear even when it seemed more appropriate to love. Machiavelli recommends killing the whole royal family, which the spanish did very successfully. However, I think that Machiavelli would agree that Spain's biggest flaw in conquering the new world was killing off the whole native popluation. He would most likely have said that once you have a people in submission it is not necessary to kill them.
I'm going to try to play devils advocate and say Machiavelli would've hated the way the spaniards ruled the new world. Machiavelli states that if you are using fear alone, you can't just make them fear you at first then stop. He says that the locals will rebel against you and unless you have a strong military, you will lose your power. After the spaniards do take power, how do they continue to force the locals to fear the spaniards? They don't and the locals rebel and the spaniards lose their power and have to leave Moctezuma. Even though they do come back and take over the aztecs for good with their siege, Machiavelli would've disapproved with the original ruling of the spaniards.
I think Machiavelli would have agreed with the way the Spanish ruled the New World, because they scared the locals into submission. I think he might try to avoid killing off the indigenous population, because they can provide cheap labor.
ReplyDeleteI think that Machiavelli would agree that the Spanish handled the "fear" aspect of ruling very well, by scaring the Natives, killing them when they are no longer helpful. However, I think that Machiavelli would disagree with how the Spanish didn't even try to make peace with the Indians before immediately killing and mistreating them. The Spanish lack in the "love" aspect of ruling. Also, the Natives, as Ethan said, could be useful to the Spanish for cheap work, or to teach the Spanish how to live off the land. The Spanish didn't think through their strategy before mistreating and murdering the Natives.
ReplyDeleteI think that Machiavelli would have agreed with the ways the spanish attacked and took over the Natives. They attacked ruthlessly and tricked the Natives into thinking they were going to end the battle, a false love. The natives believed this trap and were defeated, causing them to fear even when it seemed more appropriate to love. Machiavelli recommends killing the whole royal family, which the spanish did very successfully. However, I think that Machiavelli would agree that Spain's biggest flaw in conquering the new world was killing off the whole native popluation. He would most likely have said that once you have a people in submission it is not necessary to kill them.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to try to play devils advocate and say Machiavelli would've hated the way the spaniards ruled the new world. Machiavelli states that if you are using fear alone, you can't just make them fear you at first then stop. He says that the locals will rebel against you and unless you have a strong military, you will lose your power. After the spaniards do take power, how do they continue to force the locals to fear the spaniards? They don't and the locals rebel and the spaniards lose their power and have to leave Moctezuma. Even though they do come back and take over the aztecs for good with their siege, Machiavelli would've disapproved with the original ruling of the spaniards.
ReplyDelete