Malinche’s name is synonymous with betrayal. She has been called all sorts of names throughout history, but does she really deserve such a bad reputation? Malinche was a slave girl sold to the Spanish as they arrived in Mexico, and when they realized she had a talent for languages, she was an instrumental tool in the takedown of the Aztec empire. Malinche was lucky to have a decent amount of agency for her situation, but it’s also important to remember she was a teenage girl who had no idea what the long-running consequences of her actions would be. Join me to learn about the incredible story of the translator La Malinche!

Bibliography

Anderson, Gracie. “Was La Malinche, Indigenous Interpreter for Conquistador Hernán Cortés, a Traitor, Survivor or Icon?” Smithsonian Magazine, July 30, 2021. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/was-la-malinche-indigenous-interpreter-conquistador-hernan-cortes-traitor-survivor-or-icon-180978321/.

Encyclopedia Britannica. “Aztec Empire.” Accessed September 18, 2023. https://www.britannica.com/summary/Aztec-Empire-Timeline.

“Basic Aztec Facts: AZTEC SLAVES.” Accessed September 18, 2023. https://www.mexicolore.co.uk/aztecs/kids/aztec-slaves.

Contributors to Wikimedia projects. “Hernán Cortés.” Wikipedia, August 24, 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hern%C3%A1n_Cort%C3%A9s.

———. “La Malinche.” Wikipedia, September 16, 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Malinche.

———. “Martín Cortés (Son of Malinche).” Wikipedia, September 18, 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mart%C3%ADn_Cort%C3%A9s_(son_of_Malinche).

dhwty. “The Controversial Role of La Malinche in the Fall of the Aztec Empire: Traitor or Hero?” Ancient Origins, July 24, 2019. https://www.ancient-origins.net/history-famous-people/controversial-role-la-malinche-fall-aztec-empire-traitor-or-hero-005284.

Hellman, Reviewed by David. “Mystery of the First Mestizo / Loyal to Father, Malinche’s Son Lost to History.” SFGATE, July 11, 2004. https://www.sfgate.com/books/article/mystery-of-the-first-mestizo-loyal-to-father-2742590.php.

History Skills. “La Malinche: The Woman Who Helped Destroy the Aztec Empire.” Accessed September 18, 2023. https://www.historyskills.com/classroom/year-8/la-malinche/.

AHA. “Malinche: Indian Princess or Slavish Whore?” Accessed September 18, 2023. https://www.historians.org/teaching-and-learning/teaching-resources-for-historians/teaching-and-learning-in-the-digital-age/the-history-of-the-americas/the-conquest-of-mexico/narrative-overviews/malinche-indian-princess-or-slavish-whore.

Britannica Kids. “Marina, or Malinche.” Accessed September 18, 2023. https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/Marina-or-Malinche/628972.

Minster, Christopher. “Biography of Malinche, Enslaved Woman and Interpreter to Hernán Cortés.” ThoughtCo, May 21, 2015. https://www.thoughtco.com/biography-of-malinche-2136516.

a short introduction. “Music, Song and Dance among the Aztecs.” Accessed September 18, 2023. https://www.mexicolore.co.uk/aztecs/music/music-song-and-dance-among-the-aztecs-a-short-introduction.

Purcell, Ryan. “Life Story: Malitzen (La Malinche).” Women & the American Story, October 17, 2018. https://wams.nyhistory.org/early-encounters/spanish-colonies/malitzen/.

“Resource for Students: Malinche and Pocahontas.” Accessed September 18, 2023. https://www.mexicolore.co.uk/aztecs/spanish-invasion/resource-malinche-and-pocahontas.

root. “Aztec Education: Learning at Home and School.” History, July 22, 2014. https://www.historyonthenet.com/aztec-education-at-home-and-school.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Nahua.” Encyclopedia Britannica, July 20, 1998. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Nahua.