prompt week 3

Is "conquest" an appropriate description for what happened in Mesoamerica and the Andes in the sixteenth century? (Give examples to support ...

Webster’s dictionary defines conquest as “the act of taking control of a country, city, etc., through the use of force” by this definition the spanish expansion into latin America was most definitely a conquest. The course of actions taken by spanish conquistadors were most certainly violent, forceful, and unwelcome by native populations. While there are many misconceptions in regards to this take over as well as differing motivations there is a clear outcome. Spanish colonialism in the new world was most definitely a conquest.

The first example I wanted to talk about is the militaristic endeavors taken by conquistadors such as Cortez. While Restall certainly sheds new light on Cortez’s methods we should not discredit the tenacity (however brutal or immoral) that was taken in driving the native populations out of there homelands. Not only is there direct military conflict between spanish forces and natives, but we also see what may be the first modern accounts of biological warfare. Alongside the spear, natives were decimated at the hands of foreign disease. Even 200 years after Cortez’s entrance the spanish will continue to use violent means to clear the new lands of the “obstacles” that are it’s current inhabitants. 

Along with the use of force the spanish also approach this take over with religious means. Throughout their colonies missions spring up in order to bring native populations to God. This practice lasts even into the conquest of mexico when missions sprout up alongside presidios. We see that religious and military structures go hand in hand. 

In conclusion little room is left to label this expansion as anything other than a conquest. Through military and religious mean the spanish were unleashed on the New World