Why Did The Spanish Colonise The Americas Flashcards
What were the main reasons that the Spanish conquered the Americas?
To expand their empire, to obtain wealth and power and convert the people to Christianity
Why were the people of the Americas called Indians?
When Columbus arrived in the Americas, he thought he was in India
When did Columbus first land in the Bahamas?
October 1492
What were the Spanish hoping to find in these new lands?
Great civilisations to plunder
What was encomienda?
A system of slavery of the indigenous people
What was the Spanish approach to the tax systems they found in operation in the civilisations they conquered?
They continued to collect tributes as the Aztecs had done and continued the Inca Mit’a system, except they kept all goods and money for themselves instead of redistributing to the local population
How did the method of conversion to Christianity work?
Catholic missionaries were sent to newly established colonies and believed they were civilising the local population
What were locals forbidden to do in the method of conversion to Christianity?
Practising their own religions, which were demonised as witchcraft
What was built in newly established colonies in the method of conversion to Christianity?
Shrines for the Birgin Mary and large numbers of churches
