Spain effort to colonize the new world

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1. Based on Gaustad’s The Religious History, explain how religion influenced Spain’s effort to colonize the New World. | 150 words | 25 points.

Spain’s effort to colonize the new world was based solely on spreading the word of God. Spain at the time of Columbus’s expedition was “the most loyal Roman Catholic nation in Europe” (Gaustad’s pg.16) and therefore spreading the gospel was a main focus. It was said by General Treausrer Sanchez “the expedition could prove to be a great service to God” (gaustad’s pg.16). Spain wanted to see if there was more land to claim and if there was, they wanted to make sure that said people were brought to God through salvation (Gaustad’s pg. 17). Once new Land was acquired, Spain pushed for a complete conversion of other religions and practices to follow suit of the Catholic Church. The purification of land by fire was the harsh way Spain got their intension of change to the people habiting the different lands. The cruel ways were used by Spain when trying to “covert and isolate the Jews”(Gaustad’s pg 17).

2. Based on the lecture, explain how the myth of St. Christopher influenced Christopher Columbus’s perception of his mission. | 150 words | 25 points.
Christopher Columbus’s expedition was highly influenced by the myth of St. Christopher. St. Christopher’s myth is telling a story of a man wanting to “become a servant of god”. This devout servant helping those to cross a river was once lead to carry the child of God without knowing it until the end. Columbus’s interpretation of the story only redefines everything he was doing for not only the church but for the Nation of Spain. Columbus didn’t know what to expect crossing the ocean but after he came along the new lands he must have seen himself as the deliverer of God’s messages. Just as St. Christopher delivered the child of God to a new side of the river in the myth Columbus brought forth what was the most important aspect in Spain’s culture, and that was the belief in God.

3. Based on your reading of Columbus’s “Letter to . . . Sanchez,” explain whether he seemed to be interested in spreading Christianity or fulfilling some economic goals. | 150 words | 25 points.
Columbus’s main intent in the letter to Sánchez to me was mainly a goal of economic gains. Throughout the letter Columbus continually states how the land is lush and able to up keep livestock as well as the many fruits the land provided. He proceeds to tell Sanchez for how there canoes worked and if they were capable of harming his crew (Columbus, pg 28 &29) He states that there are metal mines and how gold is found in the rivers. (In one of the reading it states that if you have gold you can do and rule anything) Taking that back to this letter Columbus is clearly stating that the land is worth ruling over as it would give the Nation of Spain and abundance of wealth in more aspects other then just gold but also in the framing capabilities. Columbus’s mention of God merely only opens and closes the letter where he states that the land found was a gift of some sort from the redeemer (Columbus, pg31.

4. Based on your reading of Vespucci’s Mundus Novus, explain whether generally speaking he wanted to create a positive or negative image of Native Americans. | 150 words | 25 points. Vespucci’s explaination of the land and people were merely of negative review. As he spoke about the people, his own bewilderment of their customs seemed to not only disgust him but intrigued him only because he never saw anything like it. As Vespucci’s speaks bout the piercings in the men’s face he uses the words “unwanted” and “monstrous” (Vespucci’s pg 34) To describe the way it looked. He spoke of the native woman in a way that made them seem more like a piece of meat rather than another human being. His recount of the woman’s body was more like a selling piece, as if to say they are so beautiful that can be used to any means and than goes on to state that they “defiled and prostituted themselves” (Vespucci’s pg 35). If his recounts were true, then it would be hard to think the Native’s didn’t want to fight them for the protection of their own women. The language he uses to describe beauty changes when he starts to speak of the land and its giving’s. If Vespucci’s intentions were for positive recounts his phrases would surely give someone of the modern era a disgraced and barbaric image.