The Conquest Of The Americas Case Study

923 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Spanish conquest in Latin America

While researching for this assignment, I tried to make an analogy that would help explain my point of view on the topic; that the conquest of the Americas was not an extension of the medieval Crusades. As a proud American, I decided to come up with food-related analogy. Firstly, I absolutely love candy; I’m a sweet-tooth for sure. Now on this one particular Saturday, I am just craving some delicious gummies. I go to my friend Mary and ask her if she has any gummy bears. Unfortunately, Mary doesn’t have any gummy bears, but does have a bag of sour cream and onion chips. In the end, I choose to take the bag of chips because I’m hungry; even though this wasn’t what I intended on eating.

Similarly to how I intended to eat gummy bears, the original intent of the conquest of the Americas was to increase land and obtain valuable goods. Now, while conquering the land, certain conquers did try to convert the natives to Christianity. This is similar to how I took the bag of sour cream and onion chips. However, the only reason I took the bag of chips was because I was hungry similar to how the only reason the conquers converted natives was because it was a key opportunity. These to me proves that the conquest of the Americas was not an extension of the medieval Crusades, but rather a baseline.

Overall, I think the most important idea of the Crusades was to spread Christianity by capturing the “Holy Land” or Jerusalem. With this idea in mind, I believe that the conquest of Americas was not an extension of the medieval Crusades as there was no religious goal. For example, the Danish, French, and the English had no interest in their quest for exploration and settlement to spread Christianity. Instead, the French were interested in advancin...

... middle of paper ...

...uest of the Americas was a major success and changed history as we know it. As Christopher Columbus founded the Americas in 1492, his “discovery” allowed for the colonization of Europe (Nelson). Europe was able to expand their economy as new resources began to be discovered and traded (Nelson). Slavery began to take shape and the spread of culture and language flourished (Nelson). One huge success that still remains is the conquest of the Americas helped shape and create how the United States of America is today (Nelson)!

In conclusion, I believe that the conquest of the Americas was not an extension of the medieval Crusades because it lacked the fundamentals of what the Crusade really was: a religious journey to spread Christianity. In my eyes, the Crusade did not extend but rather provided a baseline of how to conquer territories and spread colonization.

Show More
Related

  • Matthew Restall's The Seven Myths Of The Spanish Conquest

    1351 Words  | 3 Pages

    When the Spanish Conquest is referred to many people get the picture of a small party of white conquistadors beating back a horde of savages and triumphing over their foes (44). In truth, the Spanish were often outnumbered by native enemies, but too often history forgets that the Spanish were also outnumbered by their native allies (45). When the Spaniards arrived in America they found a land of native peoples divided into factions, and ready to take any advantage to gain the upper-hand against rivals (46). The Spaniards saw the division between factions and took advantage of their division, using political rivalries to defeat forces that, if they had been united, would have most likely beaten back the conquistadors (45). The first image of the conquest is one of Spanish victory, perpetuated by the bravery and skill of the mighty conquistadors. The latter results in a history that is less about the Spanish conquering the natives, and more about the natives conquering each other. History changes depending on where you are standing. When you stand from a different place the story changes, heroes become villains, success becomes defeat, and your side is justified. When we narrow how we look at historical events, we narrow our way of thinking and the knowledge we can attain. Restall purposefully juxtaposes these two views, not as a

    Read More

  • Summary Of Matthew Restall's Seven Myths Of Spanish Conquest

    1144 Words  | 3 Pages

    Anais Nin once said that “we write to taste life twice: in the moment and in retrospection.” In his book, Seven Myths of Spanish Conquest, Matthew Restall tries to change our perception of the past in other to open our eyes to what life was really like during the colonial period. As Restall puts it, the main propose of the book is to “illustrate the degree to which the Conquest was a far more complex and protracted affair” (p.154) than what was supposed in the latters and chronicles left by the conquistadores. Each one of Restall’s chapters examines one of seven myths regarding the mystery behind the conquest. By doing so, Matthew Restall forces us to look back at the Spanish conquest and question

    Read More

  • Expansion of western europe

    1089 Words  | 3 Pages

    Religion played a major role in expansion for both the Portuguese and the Spanish due to their extensive anti-Muslim crusade. Due to the over zealous religious fervor of the Christian Iberians, Christianity and thus the Iberians expanded into parts of western Europe during the crusades as Christians tried to convert the Muslims who were occupying this area. The Iberians did not stop with the European mainland; they were also expanding overseas. They were interested in the fertile land of the Canary Islands, Madeira, Azores and Cape Verde. These islands would also prove to be strategic acquisitions for the Iberians, as they would eventually provide the Iberians with bases and ports to be used for commerce. Throughout the 15th century the Spanish and Portuguese had been exploring lands throughout the Atlantic which drove Queen Isabella of Spain to commission Christopher Columbus in 1492 to “Discover and acquire islands and mainland in the ocean sea” (p.340) which eventually led to the discovery of North America.

    Read More

  • Another Side of Christopher Columbus

    759 Words  | 2 Pages

    Thus began the story of the European invasion and conquest of the Indian settlements in the Americas. A story of conquest, slavery, and adventure. The search for wealth, fame and power is not modern; it is rather traditional. The story begins when Christopher Columbus asked for financial backing for an expedition to the Atlantic. Already, rivalry existed between Portugal and Spain concerning who had more power in Europe. Playing on this rivalry, Columbus met with the king of Portugal seeking sponsorship but was refused and therefore had to convince the rulers of Spain in order to carry out this expedition he much wanted. Luckily for him, King Ferdi...

    Read More

  • Second Crusades Dbq

    432 Words  | 1 Pages

    Even though the Crusades limited rule over Jerusalem and the Holy Land. The Crusades gave more power to the churches. The Crusades also were able to construct more castles.

    Read More

  • The Medieval Crusades: A Holy War

    157 Words  | 1 Pages

    The Crusades had a huge impact on changes in Europe. First it affected the effort of raising/improving military forces and providing supplies for them. Trading was improved especially after the boundaries were set. Also the interactions between the West and East led to European culture changes in art and architecture, literature, mathematics, science and education. The crusades enhanced the power of the Catholic Church, which continues to maintain more followers than any other organized religion. The crusades also brought Europe into closer

    Read More

  • The Columbian Exchange: Christopher Columbus's Exploration In The Americas

    823 Words  | 2 Pages

    Considering Christopher Columbus?s exploration in the Americas, this exploration has benefited to the Europeans to enrich their commodities and fulfilled the labor forces in this continent. By utilizing Columbus? exploration as a leading indicator, many Europeans have sailed to the Americas again in the fifteen centuries, which called the Columbian Exchange. Besides, the motive for the European to sail to the new world was the shortage of food supplies, commodities, and overpopulation. Although this exchange has benefitted the European greatly, especially in Spanish, it also brought many negative impacts to the native Americans? culture, millions of native have killed. The exchange also created the slavery exchange, where the middle and west Africa took place. Equally, this exchange also created the problem of mutual culture in different regions, particular in the Americas and later, the Asia, where it had the least impact of the Europeans.

    Read More

  • Spanish Influence on Early Californian Society

    529 Words  | 2 Pages

    One of the biggest intuitions the Spanish created were the missions for the thousands of native people. Father Junipero Sierra help establish missions all along the California coast with the first being in San Diego becoming a spiritual leader of the Scared Expedition. The mission was spaced out to be a day’s ride apart. While the missions did a lot of good they also were also atrocious towards many of the native people occupying the land. The Spanish’s goal was to convert the native people to Christianity by any force necessary. They wanted to assimilate the Indian people into their culture to be loyal to Spain all the while turning them into

    Read More

  • Why Were The Crusades A Success?

    406 Words  | 1 Pages

    The crusades were a bunch of attacks led by the Pope during the middle ages. It started out with Muslims conquering two thirds of Christian lands. In response to this the pope put together 100,000 men to reconquer the lands. The Christians reclaimed a lot of lost land such as, Mesopotamia, Persia, Spain, and more, eventually making small kingdom in them. One of the small kingdoms fell in the hands of the Muslims, and the Christians started the second crusade trying to reclaim the land. The crusade failed resulting in Muslim reign. Many crusades were fought after that, but most of them where not that successful. Even though the Crusades were very bloody and inhuman, I believe that crusades had a major impact in a good way to the world back then and even today.

    Read More

  • The Crusades

    1382 Words  | 3 Pages

    In conclusion, among other triumphs, the sole purpose of the Crusades was to reclaim the Holy Land: Jerusalem. Some crusades were successful, and some failed, however, they as a whole have had long term effects on history. The Crusades were important because not only were they a factor in the history of the progress of civilization, but their effects have influenced the Catholic church’s wealth and power as well as other matters (Alchison 1/1).

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast French And Spanish Colonization

    734 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the 1400’s European countries had been thrusted into overseas expansion in the fever for land and gold. All throughout Europe, monarchies had sent explorers all over the world to conquer land for their country. Each country had conquered and colonized in various styles, but each had a specific goal that they wanted to achieve. During the European colonization of the Americas or the New World, both the Spanish and the French spread the idea of Catholicism throughout the Americas, however the Spanish believed in treating the Native Americans in a harsher way by enslaving them for labor whereas the French established trade relationships.

    Read More

  • How the Crusades Changed Society

    1085 Words  | 3 Pages

    In 1095 Pope urban II call all Christians to take part in what would become the world’s greatest Holy War in all of history. Urban’s called Christians to take up arms and help fight to take the Holy Land of Jerusalem back from the accursed Muslims. During this time of war the whole world changed. Land boundaries shifted, men gained and lost and gained power again, and bonds were forged and broken. The Crusades had a great impact on the world that will last forever. There were many major social, political, religious and economic changes that occurred during the crusades. But first, a brief history to give backbone to these reasons.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Victor And Vanquished

    1086 Words  | 3 Pages

    From 711-1492, Christian Spaniards lived under Moorish rule until eventually, the Christian Kingdoms took over during the Reconquista. The conflicts between the Muslims and Christians created a militaristic culture in Spain that surpassed that of any other European nation. Furthermore, being trained militarily was often exclusively attributed to the nobility however, in Spain, “many young men knew these skills and used them to their advantage.” Without a doubt, recently reconquering their homeland motivated the Spanish to a basis for expansion and conquest that most other European societies were lacking. In addition, the voyages of Christopher Columbus led to discovering the New World which undoubtedly contributed to added interest in conquest. Eventually, each conquest further raised Spanish hopes for fame and

    Read More

  • Spanish Conquest Of The Aztecs Essay

    486 Words  | 1 Pages

    The Spanish colonisation led by the conquestador Hernan Cortés during the reign of King Montezuma II had alot of affect to the Aztec and the Spanish. This was both a nobel conquest and a shameful exploitation in the eyes of the Aztecs and the Spanish. The goals of the Spanish was gold, glory and god. Gold was an economical benefit to the Spanish, increasing trade and leading them to glory. This was by them taking their gold or them paying them gold as bribrey. Glory was benefitcial to the individual and the nation, gaining power and authority and is a way on building their empire and also control over other nations, so that they can compete with other nations. Great Britain and France all took some of the nation in the Americas, the Spanish

    Read More

  • Destruction Of The Indies By Bartolome De Las Casas

    936 Words  | 2 Pages

    Columbus discovery of the Americas was very profitable for the Spanish Empire, but devastating to the Native Americans already living there for thousands of years. This is conveyed in “a Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies” by Bartolomé de Las Casas. The main goal of Las Casas was to inform the Spanish King about the atrocities committed by the Conquistadors to the Indian people and their land. From the beginning the rules were that the Spanish were to convert the Indians to Christianity and help them achieve heaven. On the other hand, the Conquistadors did not follow the rules and instead murdered millions of Natives for their riches. Unfortunately to the Indians, the arrival of the Spaniards brought them total destruction. The Europeans took advantage of the Indians’ submissiveness and used mass murder (of men, women, children and elder), rape, and torture to get what they wanted, and those who survived were turned into slaves working under very harsh conditions.

    Read More

More about The Conquest Of The Americas Case Study

Open Document