John Charles Chasteen was born in 1955. He received his Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina, Chape Hill in 1988. After graduation he became an assistant professor at Bates College. Two years later he became a professor at his alma mater. In 1994, he became the associate director at the Institute for Latin American Studies. He received a Fulbright fellowship, Social Science Research Council fellowship, and a National Endowment for the Humanities fellowship. He is also a member of the Latin American Studies and American History Association.

Chasteen’s historical focus is on Latin American culture and history. He has traveled throughout Latin America, translated works of Spanish and Portuguese into English, and he has several other publications along with Born in Blood and Fire, most notably, Heroes on Horseback: A Life and Times of the Last Gaucho Caudillos, Americanos: Latin America's Struggle for Independence, and National Rhythms, African Roots.

Hernán Cortés is perhaps the most well-known Spanish conquistador, known as the conqueror of the Aztec Empire. He was born in 1485 in Medellín in Extremadura, Spain. His first experience in the Americas was in 1504 in Hispaniola (Dominican Republic/Haiti). He did well and was awarded an