SPANISH GOALS
What was one of the central goals of Spanish imperial expansion?
To spread Catholicism and convert Indigenous peoples.
Which religion did the Spanish aim to spread in the Americas?
Catholicism
What did the Spanish want to do to Indigenous peoples regarding religion?
Convert them to Christianity.
Which god was worshipped by the Maya before Spanish contact?
Kukulkan
What did the Spanish often build on top of destroyed Maya temples?
Catholic churches.
What was the main religious motivation behind the Spanish coming to the New World?
To expand Christianity and serve God by saving non-Christians.
What word describes the act of spreading Catholicism to new lands?
Missionary work or religious conversion.
What method did the Spanish use to replace Maya religious beliefs?
They destroyed temples and idols, then taught Catholicism.
How did the Spanish view the Maya religion and its beliefs?
In need of replacement with Christian beliefs.
What was one way the Spanish tried to show power and dominance through religion?
What was one way the Spanish tried to show power and dominance through religion?
How did the Spanish justify their conquest in religious terms?
They believed they were saving souls and doing God’s work.
Which group of people was sent to convert the Indigenous population?
Catholic missionaries and priests.
What role did missionaries play in Spanish settlements?
They taught religion, baptized Indigenous people, and oversaw conversions.
What did Spanish missionaries believe the Maya needed to be saved from?
From their traditional gods and “false” religious practices.
How did the spread of Catholicism affect Maya traditional practices?
Many old rituals disappeared or were blended with Christian ones.
What was the connection between religion and empire building for the Spanish?
Converting people supported Spain’s political control and expansion.
Why did the Spanish see converting the Maya as part of their duty to God?
Because they believed spreading Christianity fulfilled their divine mission
What was the Spanish belief about people who did not follow Christianity?
That they were people who needed conversion or salvation.
Why did the Spanish want to remove the worship of gods like Kukulkan?
Because they saw these gods as false and against Christianity.
What was one immediate effect of Spanish religious incursions on Maya culture?
Loss of traditional beliefs and forced adoption of Catholic practices.
How did religion help Spain expand its influence and sovereignty in the Americas?
It gave moral justification for conquest and loyalty to Spanish power.
What long-term religious change did Spanish incursions bring to the Maya regions?
The region became largely Catholic, with lasting Spanish influence.
What happened to many Maya cultural and religious artifacts during conversion efforts?
They were burned, destroyed, or confiscated.
What happened to many Maya religious symbols and temples during the incursions?
They were destroyed or replaced by Christian symbols.
How did Catholicism help the Spanish strengthen their control over the Maya?
Religion helped unify people under Spanish rule and justify authority.