During the Middle Ages, the Church was the supreme power in Europe. But by 1500, some people challenged that authority with widespread consequences. Discuss the time period of the Reformation in a well-organized essay that addresses three of these topics: Describe two church practices that reformers wanted to change and why they wanted to change them. Explain how the split in Christianity into Roman Catholicism and Protestantism came about. Describe three ways in which the Roman Catholic Church attempted to reform itself and stop the spread of Protestantism. Explain how the Reformation led to political conflict and warfare during the 1500s.

Question

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(b) In the early sixteenth century, Spanish conquistadors took control of much of the Americas. The consequences were enormous. Discuss the Spanish conquest in a well-organized essay that addresses three of these topics: Explain two reasons for Spain's desire to establish an empire in the Americas. Describe the two Native American empires that fell to the Spanish. Include their locations, ways of living, leaders, accomplishments, and weaknesses. Identify the conquistadors who led the Spanish forces and explain how and why they were able to conquer the American empires. Describe the structure of the new Spanish colonies, the effects of colonization on the native populations, and the response of Spanish conquistadores.

Answer each one in very short sentence but very understandable

Answer 1

The Reformation

During the Reformation, reformers sought to change church practices such as the sale of indulgences and the corruption among clergy. They believed indulgences exploited the faithful and undermined true repentance.

The split into Roman Catholicism and Protestantism occurred when reformers like Martin Luther called for reforms, leading to the establishment of new denominations that rejected papal authority.

To counteract the rise of Protestantism, the Roman Catholic Church initiated the Counter-Reformation, which included the Council of Trent for internal reforms, the establishment of the Jesuits for education and missionary work, and the Inquisition to combat heresy.

The Reformation incited political conflict, including the Thirty Years' War, as territories and leaders aligned with either Catholicism or Protestantism, leading to battles over religious and political power across Europe.

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Spanish Conquest

Spain sought to establish an empire in the Americas for economic gain, driven by the desire for gold and trade routes, and to spread Christianity.

The two major Native American empires that fell to the Spanish were the Aztecs in present-day Mexico and the Incas in Peru. The Aztecs were known for their complex society, rich resources, and worship of deities, while the Incas had a vast, organized empire with impressive agricultural advancements and road systems. Both were weakened by internal strife and diseases brought by Europeans.

Key conquistadors included Hernán Cortés, who defeated the Aztecs, and Francisco Pizarro, who conquered the Incas. They were able to leverage superior weaponry, alliances with local tribes, and the impact of European diseases that devastated native populations.

The new Spanish colonies were structured as viceroyalties, governed by appointed officials. Colonization decimated native populations through violence and disease, leading to forced labor and cultural assimilation. Spanish conquistadores often justified their actions claiming to bring civilization and Christianity to the indigenous peoples.