Spanish Conquest Of New Spain Analysis

What the Spaniards hoped to accomplish in their conquest of New Spain was primarily the extraction of the vast quantities of gold and other riches that they believed were there, to spread Christianity to non-Christians, and for the glory and political power that the conquest of a vast rich land, that they would have a virtual monopoly on, would bring. In this essay I am going to discuss how the three motivations of acquiring wealth, spreading Christianity and restoring the glory and political power of the newly established Spanish empire were the primary drivers of the conquest of New Spain by the Spaniards. The lust for gold by the Spaniards was perhaps the most important driver of the conquest of New Spain by the Spaniards. In the documentary “History of Mexico Part 1” we saw that Hernan Cortés didn’t even have to offer salaries to the mercenaries that he hired for the expedition only the promise of the fabled riches of the indigenous Mexican empires that they would have access to after their conquest. As the gold and other riches began flowing into Spain the wealth that was created and the quality of life that it sustained became another motivator for the continued exploitation of New Spain. …show more content…
In the Beezley text we find that the Spanish King was uniquely motivated to spread Christianity to this new realm because of agreements between the Pope and the Spanish Monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella after the Reconquista of Spain, that gave the crown authority of the church, called Patronado Real, that enabled the king to direct the church in Spanish territory. After the Reconquista of Spain for Christianity the Spanish people were in an especially pious zeal that drove them almost fanatically to seek out converts for the church in New