Ambivalent Conquest

I agree that the ambivalence was on both the side of the Spanish and the Mayans.  Each had conflicting feelings about what was best for them and who they should trust.  The Mayans at first were not sure what to make of the people who all the sudden showed up on their territory, but soon realized the Spaniards intentions and attacked.  Also later on Clendinnen provides examples of the Mayans lying about idolatry and using it to coax the Spanish.  Their ambivalence begins with trust of the Spanish and confusion as to who, why and where did the Spanish come from.  As Clendinnen goes on it is important to point out that many Friars protected the Mayans from other Spaniards.  On page 86, Clendinnen first shows Bishop Fr. Toral who " has always been ready to fight the pretensions of the secular clergy, and to protect the Indians from what he saw as their impositions."  Mayans ambivalence was most likely heightened when some of the people they believed were the enemy turned out to be helpful.

The Spaniards ambivalence was not only towards the Mayans but towards their own Spanish allies.  They were always cautious about the Mayans due to their revolts and human sacrifices.  Diego de Landa on page 97-98 tells of a deformed baby and how the friar believed that it was dead from natural causes had " been duped, and that the Indians had crucified the child," the Mayans began mocking the Spanish and their religion but in a way that maybe to the Mayans they were getting what they wanted (sacrifice for their gods) through crucifying the way the Spanish taught them that Jesus dies.  They however, also showed ambivalence towards one another.

Diego de Landa is portrayed as being a horrible person towards the Mayans and is even exiled, but on page 108 after Toral dies the Spanish seem to forget every bad thing that he has done and he is brought back to be the Bishop of the Yucatan again.

The title Ambivalent Conquests works because each time a decision is made there is uncertainty and conflicting feelings toward it.  The Spanish have conflicting feelings toward the Mayans and themselves, and the Mayans are unsure about the Spanish.