William H. Prescott

William H. Prescott (1796–1859) was an American historian whose influential histories of the Spanish conquest of Mexico and Peru drew on extensive research despite severe visual impairment.

History of Mexico: The study and account of Mexico’s past, from its earliest societies to the present. Prescott’s best-known conquest history covers the formation and fall of the Mexica Empire.
History of the Conquest of Mexico: Prescott’s 1843 history of the Spanish conquest of the Mexica Empire and the fall of Tenochtitlan. This is the work most closely associated with Prescott’s name.
George Ticknor: An American scholar of Spanish literature and a close friend of William H. Prescott. Ticknor encouraged Prescott’s historical work and advised him on Spanish sources.
Florentine Codex: A sixteenth-century Nahuatl and Spanish account of Mexica life and the Spanish conquest, compiled under Bernardino de Sahagún. Its Indigenous testimony offers perspectives largely absent from Prescott’s Spanish-centered narrative.
History of Peru: The study and account of Peru’s past, including the Inca Empire and Spanish colonization. Prescott made the Inca Empire and its conquest the subject of a major history.
History of the Conquest of Peru: Prescott’s 1847 history of the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire. It extends his narrative of Spanish expansion from Mexico into the Andes.
John Lothrop Motley: An American historian known for histories of the Dutch revolt against Spanish rule. Motley followed Prescott in writing major narrative histories of Spain and its empire.
Codex Mendoza: A sixteenth-century illustrated manuscript documenting Mexica rulers, tribute, and everyday life. Its Indigenous visual record provides evidence beyond the colonial chronicles Prescott emphasized.
Historiography: The study of how historical writing is produced, interpreted, and changed over time. Prescott’s methods and assumptions belong to the history of historical writing.
The History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic: Prescott’s 1837 history of the Spanish monarchs whose rule preceded overseas imperial expansion. This earlier work established his reputation and provides context for his conquest histories.

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Battle of Bunker HillRelated: Prescott led the defenders through the British assaults and ordered them to conserve ammunition.