The 1600s marked the extensive colonization of both the english and the spanish in North America. Even though the countries shared the desire to branch out into the unknown territory of “the new world”, spanish and english explorers did so in tremendously different ways.The encampment of the Spanish and the English settlers substantially differed because of how religious views were distributed within the new world, how how the natives -who were already inhabiting the americas- were treated, and how economic structures turned out to be constructed. The Spanish and the English had vastly different ideas on how to spread christianity throughout the new world. Before settling, the spanish had been kicking Muslims and Jews out of Spain - or just forcing the people to convert to christianity. This action proved to the …show more content…
Antagonistically, the English wanted to part ways with the church of England, so they set off on,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Spanish and English relationships with the native tribes of the new world differed immensely. At the commencement of the Spaniard’s arrival in North America, spanish settlers had had a poor association with the “indians.” Instantaneously, upon arrival, the spaniards had begun to imprison the natives with leader, Christopher Columbus, saying that the Arawak people “would make excellent servants.” Through the use of the Encomiendas System - a system where natives were given land, shelter, and protection from other tribes (as well as guaranteed entrance into the kingdom of god in the afterlife) in exchange for labor and special gifts of gold and spun cotton- the Spanish achieved free rewarded labor as well as an easier method of converting the arawak people to Christianity. If the natives did not reach the monthly quota of gold discovered or cotton harvested, spaniards punished them by cutting off a hand
It is common knowledge that the Europeans came to the Americas and that Native Americans did not seek out exploration in Europe, making the term “encounter” inaccurate. (Axtell, 98). Native Americans did eventually travel overseas to Europe, but in the beginning, as slaves, followed by Native Americans going to learn the language and culture, (Axtell 103), and finally few went to plea with the courts when conditions grew dangerous in the 1700’s.(Axtell, Native Americans were merely a variable element in a changing world that would have to adapt to
This chapter, “Three Old Worlds Create a New, 1492 – 1600,” covers the social, political and economic events that occurred in the worlds that made up America between 1492 and 1600. This chapter explores the history of the small societies that became the United States in broad contest of European exploration and exploitation. There existed conflicts between European kingdoms and this led to interest in colonies that strengthened the emerging nations. The curiosity of Europeans helped introduce them to African and American societies that had evolved over the centuries. The social and cultural collisions of these worlds changed and profoundly influenced Western history.
Milanich, Jerald T. and Susan Milbrath., ed. First Encounters: Spanish Exploration in the Caribbean and the United States1492-1570. Gainesville: U of Florida P, 1989.
In 1492, Christopher Columbus was a self-made man who worked his way up to being the Captain of a merchant vessel. He gained the support of the Spanish monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, for an expedition to the Indies. With the support of the Spanish monarchy, he set off to find a new and faster trade route to the Indies. Upon the arrival of his first voyage, Columbus wrote a letter to Luis de Santangel, a “royal official and an early supporter of his venture,” in February 1493 (35). The epistle, letter, entitled “Letter to Luis de Santangel Regarding the First Voyage” was copied and then distributed in Spain before being translated and spread throughout Europe. The Letter is held in such regard with the people as it is considered the first printed description of the new world. Through his description of the nature of the islands, Columbus decided the future fate of the islands. His description of the vast beauty of the nature around him, declares both the economic and nationalistic motivations for colonizing the new world.
In 1492, Columbus, the first of the Spanish explorers, sailed the Atlantic Ocean for the purpose of converting the inhabitants of the land he arrived on (thought to be Asia) to Christianity. He wanted to use them, according to Taylor’s writings in American Colonies, “to recruit their bodies and wealth to assist
In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. However, even after centuries later, little is truly known of the mysterious voyage and findings of the new world.1 By examining “Letter from Columbus to Luis Santangel”, one can further contextualize the events of Columbus' exploration of the New World. The letter uncovers Columbus' subtle hints of his true intentions and exposes his exaggerated tone that catered to his lavish demands with Spain. Likewise, The Columbian Voyage Map read in accordance with the letter helps the reader track Columbus' first, second, third, and fourth voyage to the New World carefully and conveniently. Thus, the letter and map's rarity and description render invaluable insight into Columbus' intentionality of the New World and its indigenous inhabitants.
In the 17th Century, over 700,000 people traversed the Atlantic to reach the English colonies located in North America as well as the Caribbean. England in particular sent out various groups to the eastern coast of North America to two regions of Chesapeake and New England. Even though the two would, later on, be bonded into one nation in the 1700s, it was apparent that the two had separate and unique identities from the start. These differences can be explained by one major factor - the motivation or reason why the settlers traversed into the New World.
Looking back into history, at around the 1500s to the 1600s, people were very much the same in the sense that many countries were looking to aggrandize their economy and appear the greatest. It was this pride and thinking that motivated many of the superpowers of the world’s past. Two such monarchies in the European continent included England and Spain, which had at the time, the best fleets the world has ever seen. Because both were often striving to be the best, they conflicted with one another. Although England and Spain had their differences, they both had a thirst to see new things and it was this hunger that led them both to discovering different parts of the “New World” and thus, colonizing the Americas.
Throughout human history, religion has played a fundamental role in societal development, regardless of the culture. Christianity, in particular, has profoundly shaped the last two thousand years of history and continues to do so today. This holds true in the case of European development and exploration of the New World. As exploration in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries flourished, many countries set out to declare land on behalf of their country, and in an effort to bring honor to their God. When English settlers first developed colonies in New England, one of their goals was to share the word of God with the Native Americans they encountered. This drastically conflicted with the views of the Native Indians, and completely altered the development of North America. European religious views in early North American exploration set the tone for America’s development into a commodification driven society that exploited the environment as a means of economic potential.
The church established contact with the New World, and made it a goal to establish the Catholic doctrines among the native population there. The Catholic Church and the Spanish monarch, however, looked upon the native population in the New World as souls to be saved. They did not consider or treat the Indians as equals. The implanting of Christianity in the New World, and the treatment of the native population by the missionaries and christian conquerors was detrimental to New World. Through men such as Cortez and Las Casas accounts of the conversions have been recorded. One of the reasons for this was the alliance of the Catholic Church with the Spanish monarchy. The status of the Indians was disregarded as the Christian conquers and missionaries who wanted to convert them subjected the...
Historical events, their development, and their ramifications are often the purview of contrasting opinions. The development of America is on such example of contrasting views. Within Eric Nellis’, an Associate Professor Emeritus at the University of British Columbia and author of several books on American history, book An Empire of Regions: A Brief History of Colonial British North America and Steven Sarson’s, a senior lecturer at University of Wales, Swansea and a fellow of the Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture, book British North America 1500-1800 two contrasting views of America’s development. Both explore the same era, and same region but provide contrasting views and different breadths of information. They both centre around the development, and independence of the New World colonies in the period between about 1500 to 1800. Both Nellis, and Sarson present well researched, and articulated, albeit contrasting views on America’s development from part of the British Empire to independence. They have different breadths of information, organizational structures, and influencers resulting in different views and understandings
During 1607-1753, Colonial America was founded. Starting on 1492, when Christopher Columbus discovered land beyond the England, people were launched into a new life. A group of puritans departed from England to escape the growing stress of the English government. Searching for freedom, in both religion and government, they sailed towards America. Their main goal was not only to start e new life, but also to convert the savages; “Indians.” With this move they experienced many difficulties. Upon starting a new life, they had to learn a new way of political life, social life, educational life, and above all religious lives.
In Massachusetts, the Puritans developed a restrictive religious leadership. The French consisted of mainly the Catholic religion, but Protestants were also present. French Jesuit missionaries hoped to convert Natives to Catholicism. For the Spanish the only religion permitted was catholicism. The Spanish used torture to increase conversions. Eventually, they eased the restriction and tried to protect the natives.
Spanish missionaries served as conquerors for the Spanish empire because they overpowered the natives through their brute force and superior technology to expand their empire territorially as well as increase their faith. The Spanish had one and only objective: to control the new world and take from it whatever number wealth as could be allowed with a distinctly less vital objective was to christianize the natives.
During the 1600’s the English decided to have people colonize in the Americas for the potential resources and wealth that they may find. During this time Spain, France, Portugal, and the Dutch have already began trade and exploration in Africa, Asia, and the Americas. England hearing of their riches, didn’t want to miss out of the opportunity. However, during these expeditions, there has been various news beforehand of the strong oceanic storms that would sometimes destroy ships or mislead them from their destinations Such news was not uncommon but due to the storms, many of the people knew the dangers of the journey and would often doubt the success of these explorations. For example, “ In may 1609, nine ships carrying 500 colonists under Sir Thomas Gates and Sir George Summers had set sail to America to reinforce the colony at Jamestown. In an unusual storm, Gates and Summers were driven on the Bermudas, before managing to sail to the mainland” (Honan 371). News such as this was widespread throughout England and amongst these would be news of the encounters with natives. For example, “...