The Legend that Inspired Cortez

Photo by Cacá Meirelles

Amazonian women have dotted recorded history all over the world.  From Ancient Greece to modern Brazil, these strong native women have elevated men towards greatness.  

Spanish writer Garci de Montalvo was inspired by the voyages of Christopher Columbus and wrote Adventures of Esplandian in 1500.  The buzzword of his time was "terrestrial paradise" with circulating rumors of gold and pearls worn by exotic women.  

Then, with the historic mythical broadcasts of Columbus and Montalvo, Cortez was on a mission and would not quit, sailing to La Paz himself and landed there sometime in between 1534 and 1535.  But reality met Cortez as he discovered the Pericu Natives, living off the land as regular tribal people.  

An interesting fact about the Pericu, is that they had the technology of watercraft already in their possession.  They knew how to fish since they did not practice farming.  The Pericu Elder Women were mostly tribal leaders.  And analysis of their skeletal ancestors suggest a connection to Trans-Pacific people.  Even though the Pericu occupied Baja California Sur for over 10,000 years, something tells me that they sailed into Cabo San Lucas with dreams of their own!

 

Good to Know:
Amazon Women: On the Front Lines of Grassroots Climate Leadership.
http://www.earthisland.org/journal/index.php/elist/eListRead/amazon_women_on_the_front_lines_of_grassroots_climate_leadership/