ARHS 12.1

Timeline of Colonization:
- Spanish colonizers arrived in the late 16th century.
- Conquest of the Aztec Empire in 1521.
- Conquest of the Inca Empire in 1537.
Initial Encounters:
- Characterized by extreme violence against Indigenous peoples.
- Followed by attempts at cultural accommodation.
Architectural Influence:
- Architecture and urban design in New Spain and New Granada exhibited syncretism, the merging of different, often religious cultural practices.
- Indigenous building techniques and ornamentation were preserved, influenced by the use of Indigenous labor in construction.
- European architectural models and techniques were emphasized especially in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Architectural Strategies: What strategies did Spain employ to assert political and cultural control in the Americas during the 16th and 17th centuries?
Survival of Indigenous Practices: As Indigenous populations adapted to Spanish rule, which elements of their architecture and culture managed to survive and how did they do so?

Context:
- Written by Pedro Sancho, this text describes the Spanish conquest of Peru and the city of Cuzco as it was encountered by the Spanish.
- Francisco Pizarro and his army conquered Tawantinsiyu between 1533-1535.
Guiding Questions:
1. For whom was Cuzco constructed, and what is its intended purpose?
2. What architectural features of the city are highlighted by Sancho?
3. Does Sancho's description closely resemble the published image accompanying the text?

Significance of the City:
- Cuzco is noted as the principal city where the lords of the land resided.
- Sancho describes it as "so large and so beautiful that it would be worthy of admiration even in Spain."
- It housed palaces of lords; no poor people resided there.
- Lords built houses there; many caciques (local leaders) also resided continuously.
- Notably, the city was surrounded by numerous houses for the recreation of former lords and for caciques who inhabited the city.
Cultural Practice:
- Each deceased lord had his house, and his inheritance was not taken by successors.

Materials and Layout:
- Most houses were constructed of stone, others utilized adobe, all arranged in orderly fashion.
- Streets were laid out at right angles, straight, and paved with gutters for water lined with stone.
- Two rivers ran along the sides of the city, ingeniously built to control flooding by using stone flags to ensure water purity.
Fortress Description:
- On a hill overlooking Cuzco was a beautiful fortress made of earth and stone with large windows enhancing its beauty.
- The fortress included many dwellings and a square main tower with multiple terraces.
- The craftsmanship was so precise that no mortar was visible between the stones, appearing as polished slabs with seamlessly alternating joints.

Establishment:
- Mexico City was founded atop the ruins of Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec Empire, after Hernán Cortés's conquest in 1521.
Urban Planning:
- The design of Mexico City was based on existing Tenochtitlan architecture but incorporated European strategies.
- This planning was guided by The Laws of the Indies, regulations set forth by the Spanish crown to manage colonization.

Cultural and Historical Elements:
- Key structures included the Temple of Quetzalcoatl, ballcourt, Tonacatapetl/Temple of Tlaloc, Coatepec/Temple of Huitzilopochtli, and the Temple of the Sun.

Plaza Design:
- The main plaza is designated as the center point of the town, with size and proportions defined based on anticipated population growth.
- Recommended dimensions for the plaza were not less than 200 ft wide and 300 ft long or larger than 800 ft long and 530 ft wide, with an ideal proportion being 600 ft long and 400 ft wide.
Street Orientation:
- Streets should be oriented from the corners of the plaza, facing the four main winds to avoid exposure to inconvenient winds.

Historical Context:
- Acoma Pueblo was first occupied in 1150 CE, with the construction of San Esteban del Rey occurring in 1629.
- Initially settled by Ancestral Puebloan people post-Chaco Canyon collapse; Spanish conquest occurred mid-16th century.
Cultural Accommodation:
- Following violent conquest, Catholic missions replaced local governance and beliefs, merging Indigenous practices with Spanish architecture.

Foundation:
- Originally established by Jesuits in 1578, with the church's present form completed by Simón de Barrientos in 1698.
Architectural Style:
- Local artisans reinterpreted European designs, using Indigenous construction techniques and motifs.

Notable Features:
- Façade details exemplify a blend of European influence and local craftsmanship.
- Examined alongside works like Vitruvius's writings, showcasing the adaptation of architectural principles.