“The colonial cities in the ‘New World’, that is, the Americas, were founded and laid out according to specific rules and intentions. What were they? Did similar rules result in similar
appearances or features in the cities of the different European colonisers? If not, why not? Use a
specific city as suitable illustration of your argument.”
Essay Plan
1. Introduction/argument (150)
2. Spain colonies rules (politics and religion) (200)
3. English colonies rules (politics and religion) (200)
4. Spanish specific town appearances (Spanish town) (200)
5. English specific town appearances (English town) (200)
6. Spanish specific architecture (200)
7. English specific architecture (200)
8. Conclusion (150)
The English and Spanish Colonisation of the Americas were founded and laid out upon with two similar sets of rules and intentions. The study of the cities of Mexico (Spanish) and Boston (English) will be looked at side by side. By gaining an understanding of the political, social and economic backgrounds of the two colonies it will assist the understanding of why any similarities and differences occurred.
Instigated by the monarchy in the 1600’s, The Spanish set out to the Americas seeking new territories to conquer and further enhance their empires wealth influence.
In cases where conquerors advances required permanent settlement to either consolidate or defend a conquest, colonies were set up according to strict rules dictated by the monarchy. Spanish colonial settlements were very reliant on the old country for almost everything; cultivation of the land was dismissed in preference for purchasing items from Spain, and Spanish culture, arts and religion were also directly translated into the new cities and landscape. Mexico city epitomises the ideals of the rules set up by the Spanish legislature. Which were as follows;
1. The