Analyze the following statements about the Spanish Empire. What influenced the spread of Christianity from Europe to the Americas?(1 point)

Question

Responses

The joining of Navarre and Aragon allowed the Spanish to acquire Granada. The tactics used to acquire Granada were violent. After the union, Spain was able to freely enact the pope’s will and spread Catholicism to the New World.
The joining of Navarre and Aragon allowed the Spanish to acquire Granada. The tactics used to acquire Granada were violent. After the union, Spain was able to freely enact the pope’s will and spread Catholicism to the New World.

When Spain was fully formed as its own political entity, the Spanish were able to translate their religious history into missionary voyages to the New World. Spain would use the example of the conquest of Granada to peacefully convert Indigenous populations, avoiding violence at all costs.
When Spain was fully formed as its own political entity, the Spanish were able to translate

Answer 1

The statements about the Spanish Empire suggest different perspectives on the relationship between Spain's political unification and the spread of Christianity to the Americas. Let's analyze the arguments presented in the two responses.

1. First Response:

   • Political Unity: The joining of Navarre and Aragon is emphasized as a pivotal moment in Spain's formation, which ultimately allowed for greater control and direction in executing the pope's will.
   • Violent Tactics: This response acknowledges the violent methods employed in acquiring Granada, suggesting that Spain's approach to spreading Catholicism in the New World would similarly involve military might.
   • Imposition of Religion: It implies that the spread of Catholicism was closely tied to Spain’s imperial ambitions and aggressive tactics.

2. Second Response:

   • Political Unity: It also connects Spain's formation as a unified political entity to the translation of its religious practices into missionary efforts, highlighting the strategic application of existing religious history.
   • Peaceful Conversion: Contrasting sharply with the first response, it suggests that Spain intended to use examples from the past to convert Indigenous populations without violence, promoting a more benevolent image of their missionary work.

Influences on the Spread of Christianity:

• The first response emphasizes the influence of military conquests and political decisions (e.g., the union of kingdoms and violent campaigns) that facilitated the aggressive spread of Catholicism.
• The second response takes a more idealistic view, proposing that Spain aimed to replicate past successes in a peaceful manner, even while noting that this ideal was not necessarily aligned with historical practices.

Conclusion: The spread of Christianity from Europe to the Americas was influenced by a combination of Spain's military conquests, political unity under a strong monarchy that aligned with the papal authority, and an evolving narrative that justified these actions either through conquest or, alternatively, through a mission of peace. Both perspectives are significant, as they reflect the complex and often contradictory nature of colonization and missionary efforts in the New World.