Chapter 1

[Name of the Writer]

[Name of Instructor]

History and Anthropology

[Date]

Chapter 1: Europe, 1500-1537

Short Answers

Q1. Ans. Ines Suarez lived in a town where most of the women just wait to grow old and die. When the social lives of those women are observed, they were strongly connected to religion and prayers. They were used to be a very devotee and submissive wives. The young women of that period had two options either to marry or "ended up at the convent as nuns” (Allende, 05). At the same time, women were used to be faithful to their families, and they had no part in decision-making. The head of the family would decide the fate of a young woman. However, young girls were given dowry at the time of marriage. In case, a family could not afford the dowry would decide that their daughter or sister will not marry. The honor of the family was tied to the women of the family (Allende, 09).

Similarly, Marina Ortiz de Gaete’s social position was not very different from Ines Suarez’s society. At a very young age, she was married off even when she was not mature enough. Before her marriage, she belonged to a community where women would either pray or sew along with being faithful to their husbands. The women of this society would stay at home after marriage and kept busy their selves with house chores.

Q2. The men like Juan de Malaga, Pedro Valdivia, Diego Almagro had so many opportunities ahead. In a patriarchal system, they have the right to choose their career as well as their wives. At the same time, they also enjoyed the privileges of being men by getting a wealth named dowry along with a beautiful wife. Most of the men would participate in wars as soldiers or linked with a trade. At the same time, men of that social position were openly involved in drinking and playing with cards. They would also have relations with other women out of marriage.

Q3. Ines Suarez was in love with her husband Juan, and after Juan left for America, she could not survive without him. She was missing her husband and sleepless nights made her ill. She could wait, so she decided to go after him. As a result, she decided to go to the new world. On the other hand, Pedro Valdivia was fed up of his weak relationship with his wife. He was tired of grazing cattle and harvesting olives (Allende, 32. He bored of reading the same books again and again; therefore he decided to go to the Americas.

Q4. The "honorable" Spanish men were very civilized, and they were also supposed to maintain the societal standards. They were supposed to remain loyal to their wives. At the same time, they would take the whole responsibility for their families. They were good readers with remarkable manners and ethics. Moreover, they were expected to remain close to the religion. On the other hand, the honorable women were born with very few options. They were controlled by the male heads of the family. Therefore, they were asked to remain respectful and loyal to them. At the same, women were also responsible for the honor of her family (Allende, 06). She would marry according to the instruction of her family. All of her life decision will be taken by any male figure from the family. After the marriage, she would remain faithful to her husband until her death.

Q5. The Spanish Empire was very close to religion, and the churches were considered as essential part of this empire. Therefore, when the new lands were explored, and the ruler of the country was responsible for spreading their state religion in new lands. It was the reason that Spain only allowed the Christian men to travel the Americas.

Q6. The war between France and Spain over the Italian cities portrayed in the novel depicts that they were fighting to get the holy city under their own control. It shows that France was aiming to capture Italy while Spain was playing its role to protect the Holy city. One of the scenes from the book clearly describes it, in which Pedro along with his friend was protecting the nuns of a covenant in the city (Allende, 22).

Q7. "Hidalgo" is a Spanish word which refers to the word "Noble." The young Spanish warriors were from a noble background, and they had fought many wars in the 16th century. The hidalgos of Spain as warriors on horseback reminds of the young Spanish soldiers riding the horses roaming in the streets of Italy. In 1527, the Spanish troops entered into the holy city of the Vatican (Allende, 20). Among them, Pedro and Francisco were seen on the horses discussing their personal lives. They were in the city to protect the sacred places and the religious men.

Q8. The enemies have openly involved in the massacre of the people so brutally in Rome that blood ran through the streets and many people fled the city. The invaders burned the houses of the people, and they even did not leave the churches, hospitals, and convents from destruction. Men were tortured, and women were raped. Those ferocious soldiers murdered everyone they met in the city. Even, animals were not safe from their cruelty. The violence remained for two months on the streets of Rome (Allende, 22).

Q9. When the mother from convent visited the Pope, she told about the bravery of Francisco de Aguirre of protecting the young nuns from the convent, and the Pope got impressed (Allende, 23). After that, he called for Francisco and asked him that what he needed in return? Initially, Francisco resists but then he tells about the desire of marrying Maria. This is how Francisco finds his lover.

Q10. Inca, an Indian tribe, lived on new lands, and Inca Atahualpa was the head of that tribe. The place where these people live was very beautiful and full of resources. There were luxuries like hot springs of water and much more (Allende, 29). They were having all the privileges of life. The empire of Inca would be surrounded by his people in his court. The dresses Inca people wore were also unique to the Spanish travelers.

Q11. The first encounter of Pizarro with Inca was delightful. Pizarro and his members were welcomed by Inca tribe. During the first meeting, Pizarro observed that these are simple people who do not know about writing. Therefore, he tried to use his tricks on Inca Atahualpa to trap him. He deceived them in the name of friendship and killed the guards of Atahualpa and made him prisoner (Allende, 30).

Q12. Suarez was traveling to the Americas along with her young female cousin in search of Juan. Later on in her voyage, she came to know that there were only two women in the whole voyage along with many men. Both of them were warned by maestro to protect themselves from the men (Allende, 33).

Q13. El Dorado is a place most of the Spanish men in the 16th Century would dream about. Likewise, Gregorio described his dream in the book. He had also dreamt about traveling to El Dorado. Sometimes, he would see a lake and other times it was a land (Allende, 38).

Q14. In the voyage, Sebastian Romero attempted to rape Suarez, but he was not successful in doing so. When Suarez was alone in the Kitchen portion on the board, Romero took it as a chance and attacked Suarez. However, Suarez was confident enough, so she protected herself with a frying pan. She hit Romero on the head, and he fainted (Allende, 35). This is how she saved herself from him.

Works Cited

Allende, Isabel.”Inés of my soul”. HarperCollins, 2006.