DBQ: The Contributions Of The Age Of Exploration

Jake Petrillo Age of Exploration: May 29th, 2016 Global History-9 DBQ Essay Hill
Many times throughout history, a nation may reap the rewards of another’s destruction. This was especially evident during the Age of Exploration, in which the Spanish Empire began to expand their territory in the the New World. Powered by the Italian Renaissance and the Scientific Revolution, new inventions and ideas about the world enabled people to travel greater distances than before, allowing for the European discovery of the Americas, and consequently the civilizations present. The civilizations of the Aztecs, Incas, and Mayans were thriving and developed, but were still no match for the Spanish forces. While there, the Spanish Empire attempted to influence
This benefits the Spanish, as they would gain land, wealth, and arms if the natives would not convert. This strengthened the Spanish Empire, so if the natives did or did not convert, the Spanish still benefited. Additionally, the explorers who set out to convert the indigenous peoples were highly praised when they returned, and felt that they were closer to God. The conversion to Christianity harmed the natives, however, as they lost a focal point of their culture and lives, and most of their pottery, buildings, and overall creations were centered around their various religions. An additional document that would be needed to support the argument that the Spanish benefitted from the conversion of the New World natives to Christianity would be a document showing how high the explorers were hailed when they returned back to Spain, as it would reveal a secondary or tertiary motivation to leave Spain and convert however many people they could. The conversion of the New World civilizations to Christianity benefited the Spanish by allowing them to gain followers for God and Spain, but harmed the natives because they lost the main aspect of their
The Spanish benefited from all this, as they were able to capitalize on the workforce and land the conquering of the Aztecs provided. Additionally, because they capitalized on the land, resources, and natives, the Spanish gained power in all facets of a civilization, reaping an exponential positive gain from the New World. Another document that could be needed to show all facets of the cultural and political shifts of the New World, is an Aztec or other tribes King’s response to Spanish intrusion, and whether or not they approved and welcomed the changes. Due to Spanish intervention, the New Worlds political, economical, social, and cultural aspects all shifted and changed, damaging the natives heritage and wellbeing, but improving the amount of land, resources, and workforce that was available to the Europeans, benefiting