20. The Letter of Hernán Cortés to Charles V
Hernán Cortés wrote a series of detailed letters, known as the “Cartas de Relación,” to Charles V of Spain, chronicling the dramatic conquest of Mexico. These vivid descriptions shaped European perceptions of the New World, blending firsthand observation with persuasive narrative. Cortés’s correspondence not only reported events but also justified his actions, leaving a lasting imprint on both history and myth.
