In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. Christopher Columbus discovered the new world in his voyages, but by accident. The reason for Columbus’s voyage was to find an alternate trade route to the Spice Islands And at this time the passage required Spain to go through the Mediterranean Sea. The sea, however, was controlled by the Ottoman Empire and required a hefty toll. For this reason, Columbus did “not go eastward by land in the usual manner but by the western way” (Doc 1). To bypass the Ottomans and significantly increase the profit Spain, an alternate route was needed and the way was west. What Christopher Columbus discovered is today known as the West Indies, but as he thought the Spice Islands. Spain promptly established trading posts and utilized these islands for profit. The age of Exploration and Colonization enabled Spain and other nations to acquire overseas empires
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The indigenous people had their own lifestyle, religion, and society. The Aztecs who were conquered by Spain was a society revolving around the gods. They worshiped their Sun god, Huitzilopochtli, through human sacrifice. When the Spaniards came the indigenous people were thought as Barbarous and forced to change their ways. The Indians are to be “dressed like “reasonable” men … abandon their ancient evil ways … not to bathe as frequently” (Doc 2). Spain forced their ways on others and if they did not obey, the Spanish would “make slaves of them” (Doc 3). Hundreds of thousands of natives became slaves, working in the mines and fields for the Spanish and as most slaves were not in the best conditions and treated brutally. In document 5, Bartolome de las Casas depicts this cruelty. The Spanish are depicted enforcing their will and using whatever force necessary. Through force, the Spanish were able to exploit the indigenous people and harvest the land’s natural
The indigenous people had their own lifestyle, religion, and society. The Aztecs who were conquered by Spain was a society revolving around the gods. They worshiped their Sun god, Huitzilopochtli, through human sacrifice. When the Spaniards came the indigenous people were thought as Barbarous and forced to change their ways. The Indians are to be “dressed like “reasonable” men … abandon their ancient evil ways … not to bathe as frequently” (Doc 2). Spain forced their ways on others and if they did not obey, the Spanish would “make slaves of them” (Doc 3). Hundreds of thousands of natives became slaves, working in the mines and fields for the Spanish and as most slaves were not in the best conditions and treated brutally. In document 5, Bartolome de las Casas depicts this cruelty. The Spanish are depicted enforcing their will and using whatever force necessary. Through force, the Spanish were able to exploit the indigenous people and harvest the land’s natural