Religious Impact on the Spanish and Nahua Concerning the Conquest of Mexico - Essay Example

? Religious Impact on the Spanish and Nahua Concerning the Conquest of Mexico Religious differences of the Spanish and Nahua people impacted the conquest of Mexico. The Spanish were Roman Catholics. Nahua, on the other hand, worshipped gods and goddess. The religious values of both groups allowed for the eventual victor and eventual loser. The Spanish religion was based on heaven and hell in a vertical way, but the Nahua felt life was more circular. Another aspect that shaped the conquest was the view of life and death. The Spanish were taught that life would end and heaven or hell would begin. The temporal realm was separate from life on Earth. The Nahua believe that natural and supernatural were entwined. Another defining aspect of religious influence was blood. Spaniards believed god had sent Jesus to spill his blood, but the Nahua believed that their gods needed human blood. Each religious influence controlled the outcome of the conquest. The Spanish were Roman Catholics. Although the Spaniards were Roman Catholics, different orders would shape the conquest and eventual conversion to Catholicism. Schwartz (2000:25) explains: The conversion of the indigenous peoples of New Spain (Mexico) was carried out in the sixteenth century primarily by missionary orders: the Franciscans, Dominicans, Augustinians, and after 1574, the Jesuits. Depending upon the order, the priests would convert the Nahua and the other tribes in Mexico. The goal was to baptize and convert the people to Christianity. It must be noted that different orders handled the natives with diverse methods. Some priests were harsh in the conversion. The Nahua had to convert, be baptized, and refute their native religion. Other orders would incorporate the local religion into their view of Christianity. It is important to note that in the end, the Christians conquered the Nahua, but the Nahua retained some of their traditions. The Nahua believed in a variety of god and goddesses. Schwartz (2000:9) states: The many gods and goddesses can perhaps be grouped into three major categories. As an agricultural people, the Mexica gave particular devotion to the gods of the earth and of fertility, to gods like Tlaloc, god of rain…A second group consisted of the creator deities…Finally, there were deities who formed part of the cult of war and sacrifice. The many gods and goddesses were entreated for rain, victory in war, and praise for creation. The impact of the religious differences between the Spanish and Nahua in the respect to gods and goddess influenced the conquest. The Spanish fought for a trinity in one god. The Nahua asked their gods of war and sacrifice to beat the invaders. When mankind wages war for a religious purpose they will win at all costs. If a tribe is fighting for land alone it is easier to lose. The religious ties of homeland were not as important to either side. The difference was one side fought for a sole god, but the other fought for their homeland. Thus the Spaniards overcame the Nahua. Another impact religion made on the conquest of the Spanish over the Nahua was conversion. The Nahua did not want to expand their empire through conversion. The Nahua wanted to annihilate their enemies. If they conquered people, the Nahua let them keep their identity. The Spaniards wanted to conquer and convert. This provided slave labor, allies, and more resources. Different religious values of the two warring sides influenced the conquests. Christians wore crosses with arrows, swords, and other advanced weapons. Gold was not valued by the Nahua for their traditions. However, the Christians believed in the value of gold. The Spaniards wanted the gold to give a tribute to the church. Gold could be made into crosses. The Nahua’s rituals were of complicated temples built of stone. Water, sacrifices, and other rituals made up the Nahua religion. The value of the territory made the Spaniards feel that their god wanted them to take the riches in order to further the Church’s mission of spreading Christianity throughout the world. The Spaniards conquered the Nahua due to the religious values. Catholism believed that a person lived and died in order to go on to an afterlife. It was a very vertical way of looking at life and religion. Diaz (2000:53) reported seeing Cortez explain to the Nahua about good and evil: They must cast those most evil Idols out of their temple, for they were not gods at all but very evil things which led them astray and could lead their souls to hell. The he spoke to them about good and holy things, and told them to set up in the place of their Idols an image of Our Lady which he gave them, and a cross. For the Spanish, birth, worship of the trinity god, and death where one went to heaven or hell was the essence of life. An individual would be human and then raise above or fall below. The Nahua believed in a circular life. A belief that actions repeated themselves, history would repeat itself. As a result omens were given in order to predict a new tragedy was coming. Schwartz (2000:29) reports: Nahua accounts emphasize signs and omens that preceded the Spaniards’ arrival…There is evidence suggesting that the Nahua peoples were not alarmed by the arrival of the Spaniards and rather than viewing them as an almost supernatural force, they saw them as simply another group of powerful and dangerous outsiders who needed to be controlled or accommodated. The omens that appeared before the Spaniards signaled danger. However the danger could be controlled. As a result of vertical point of view of the Spaniards or the circular view of the Nahua, the Spaniards won the conquest. The Spaniards believed that a conquest was a good thing in their life. The Nahua thought that the whole situation would pass just like the omens. The Nahua felt the number eight held significance. There were eight omens. For example De Sahagun (2000:32) explains one sign as: The fourth omen was that while the sun was still out a comet fell, in three parts. It began off to the west and headed in the direction of the east, looking as if it were sprinkling glowing coals. It had a long tail, which reached a great distance. When it was seen, there was a great out-cry, like the sound of rattles. The Nahua believed that they survived the comet, they would endure the new coming warriors. The omens proved that history does not repeat itself. The Spanish conquered the Nahua. Another aspect that shaped the conquest was the view of life and death. The Spanish were taught that life would end and heaven or hell would begin. The temporal realm was separate from life on Earth. Catholics believe human life is only natural and real. Heaven, hell, and purgatory are the supernatural realms. All are very real, but they do not normally mix with each other. The Nahua believe that natural and supernatural were entwined. Swartz (2000:11) reports: For the Mexica, little distinction was made between the natural and the supernatural world. They knew and honored the ancient Mesoamerica gods: the deities of the sky, the earth, the corn, and sun. Although there was recognition of a unifying life-giving force, there was a vast pantheon of gods and goddesses. Spaniards believed god had sent Jesus to spill his blood, but the Nahua believed that their gods needed human blood. Catholics of all orders believed that Jesus died on the cross and spilled his blood to save them from hell. Christ’s blood washed their sins away. The Nahua believed according to Schwartz (2000:11): The Mexica believed that the gods, especially the sun good, required ‘precious water,’ or human blood to nourish them. The best and most noble sacrifice as a messenger to the gods was that of a warrior taken in battle. Thus the presentation of captives for sacrifice was a main goal of battle and an occasion of great religious significance surrounded by ritual obligations and responsibilities. This greatly impacted the conquest of Mexica. Spaniards would marry and convert captives, but the Nahua would kill their captives. This provided the Spaniards with more slave labor and resources than if they would have killed everyone as a sacrifice. The moral value of both religions were similar, but different as well. Both the Spaniards and the Nahua explored issues of creation and moral values. The problem was the Spanish and the Nahua had different feelings on what was moral or what creation consisted of. The Christians believed that the Nahua did not have morals due to human sacrifice for the sake of sacrifice. The Nahua believed that the sacrifices were moral. Different styles of creation were also an issue. The Spaniards felt that creation was real not a myth, but the Nahua believed the Spaniards’ version of creation was a myth. Did religious differences really allow the Spanish to conquer the Nahua? It is very possible. The problem with war and the conquest is the winner gets to write history. Although the Nahua had their own language and style of recording that history. Schwartz (2000:2) reports: The Mexica and the related peoples of Mexico had their own system of recording and remembering events through a combination of pictographic representation and oral history. It was after the conquest that they learned to write both in Spanish and in their own language, Nahuatl, using the Roman alphabet. The winner might have written history, but the Nahua also gave an account. Both accounts need to be taken in to careful consideration. The winners wanted to look good, but the Nahua did not write of the event until years later. The conquest did have a winner and loser. The perspective depends on the writer. Religious differences of the Spanish and Nahua people influenced the conquest of Mexico. The Spanish as Roman Catholics wanted to convert the Nahua. The Nahua worshipped gods and goddess. Agricultural, creation, and war gods and goddess were all worshipped. The Spanish religion was based on heaven and hell in a upright way, but the Nahua sensed life was more spherical. Another facet that formed the conquest was the view of life and death. The Spanish were educated that life would end and heaven or hell would begin. The temporal realm was distinct from life here on Earth. The Nahua had faith that natural and supernatural were entwined. Another crucial characteristic of religious influence was blood. Spaniards believed god had sent Jesus to spill his blood for their sins, but the Nahua believed that their gods needed human blood. Each religious influence controlled the outcome of the conquest. Bibliography De Sahagun, F.B. (2000). Florentine Codex. Schwartz, S. ed. (2000). Victors and Vanquished: Spanish and Nahua Views of the Conquest of Mexico. USA: Bedford/St. Martins. Diaz, B. (2000). The history of the conquest of New Spain. Schwartz, S. ed. Victors and Vanquished: Spanish and Nahua Views of the Conquest of Mexico. USA: Bedford/St. Martins. Duran, D. (2000). The history of the Indies of New Spain. Schwartz, S. ed. Victors and Vanquished: Spanish and Nahua Views of the Conquest of Mexico. USA: Bedford/St. Martins. Schwartz, S. ed. (2000). Victors and Vanquished: Spanish and Nahua Views of the Conquest of Mexico. USA: Bedford/St. Martins. Read More