Conquest-era book destruction aimed to demoralize foes and eradicate rival religions

Evidence

The subjugation of such an advanced society required a systematic destruction of its books and archives, partly to demoralise a potentially potent military foe, but also to eradicate the worship of what the Spanish identified as false gods. Poring over these multicoloured scrolls of deerskin or screenfold panoramas inscribed on tree bark, Spanish suspicions were exacerbated by the fact that Aztec writing used a pictographic system, easily denounced as witchcraft. Only the Mayans had a recognisably alphabetical system of writing. — Andrew Pettegree, Arthur der Weduwen, The Library- A Fragile History, 368

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the modern theme of libraries as targets of ideological destruction — the pattern recurs through later chapters. — connects to: Nazi book policy combined total destruction with systematic collection — Andrew Pettegree, Arthur der Weduwen, The Library- A Fragile History, 754; Faster European publishing made library destruction less effective as a weapon — Andrew Pettegree, Arthur der Weduwen, The Library- A Fragile History, 399; Neglect destroyed more ancient libraries than war or malice did — Andrew Pettegree, Arthur der Weduwen, The Library- A Fragile History, 58 (+1 more)
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Andrew Pettegree, Arthur der Weduwen, The Library- A Fragile History, 368

Broader Connections

• Colonial destruction becomes self-justifying by erasing the conquered people’s rebuttals. #expands (0.85) — , The Rod and the Child, 1199
• Nazi book policy combined total destruction with systematic collection #corroborates (0.65) — Andrew Pettegree, Arthur der Weduwen, The Library- A Fragile History, 754
• Faster European publishing made library destruction less effective as a weapon #qualifies (0.50) — Andrew Pettegree, Arthur der Weduwen, The Library- A Fragile History, 399
• Neglect destroyed more ancient libraries than war or malice did #complicates (0.50) — Andrew Pettegree, Arthur der Weduwen, The Library- A Fragile History, 58