Conquest Of America Essay - 1078 Words

The 15th century was a turning point in the worlds history, since the ocean, which was previously seen as an obstacle to reach beyond, was turned out to be a medium to unify the continents. The discovery of ocean is mainly referred as the oceanic revolution and it put the study of history in a global context, for power relations were no longer limited to national histories. At the time the Ottoman Empire was the leading figure in terms of power, since it was dominant in the Mediterranean which, as Bender states, formed the core of the worlds economy. The Europeans, feeling inferior against the power and the wealth of Islamic world, saw the ocean as an alternative way to claim power. As Haring suggests ‘Ocean Sea became the medium†¦show more content†¦As Haring states, another motive for colonization was to impose their modes of civilization upon as large a part of the world as possible. In his letter, Columbus described the natives as simple, timid folk who went abo ut naked and who lived simple lives in an environment like that of the Garden of Eden. Thus the Spaniards justified their colonization of the Americas with the concept of the White Mans Burden. The success of the Spaniards colonization of the Americas was partly a result of the condition of the natives. Columbus referred to the natives as timorous creatures without any weapons, so the men who remain there alone sufficient to destroy all that land. In addition to this, the Aztec belief in the return of Quetzalcoat also played a significant role in the submission of the natives to the Spaniards. As the Spaniards were coming from the sea with their ships, the natives believed that they were the agents of the God and thus they showed their respect. Columbus recounted that they all believe that power and goodness are in the sky, and they believed very firmly that I, with these ships and crew, came from the sky; and in such opinion they recevied me at every place where I landed... Another, yet not the last, factor in the success of the Spaniards was their use of Indian tribes suchShow MoreRelatedThe Conquest Of The Americas1094 Words   |  5 PagesThe conquest of the Americ as is one of the most important events in modern history. The invasion, which took centuries to complete, created a trans-atlantic world. The people that began the conquest were Spaniards, inhabitants of the Iberian Peninsula, primarily from the Christian kingdoms of Castille and Aragon. Following the initial discovery By Cristobal Colon in 1492, Spaniards conquered most of modern South and Central America, as well as the Caribbean. They did this in the words of Bernal DiazRead MoreThe Spanish Religious Conquest Of America1739 Words   |  7 Pagesthe key factors that have shaped our world society today. The Spanish religious conquest was one of the first early history examples that played a big role in America. As soon as the Spanish landed in New Spain it changed the Native Mexican culture. The consequence of the spiritual conquest was the loss of the native people beliefs, buildings, and customs. However, the Native Mexicans did not respond well to the conquest, it caused them t o rebelling against the Spanish, but with time they started toRead MoreConquest of South America Essay785 Words   |  4 PagesThe conquest of Mexico began when Hernando Cortes first arrived in South America. When he started his first movement of the conquest, some people looked at him as a great leader or a God and others saw him as a simple man. His conquest brought the Spaniards and Indians happiness and sorrow at the same time. 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To explore this, Todorov uses Cortes’ and Montezuma’s communication techniques throughout their battle to highlightRead MoreHistory: Spanish Colonization of the Americas and Spanish Conquest1021 Words   |  5 PagesThe Conquest and Colonization of the Caribbean and Yucatan by European, Resulted in significant cultural, biological environmental changes to both regions Maggie Jim Professor Ancient History [Date] 1. Briefly discuss (but in detail) the similarities/differences between the initial Spanish colonization of the Caribbean and the Yucatan. In your discussion include the initial reaction of the Taino and Maya to the presence of the Spanish and the rational