What were the religious and cultural beliefs of the Spanish conquistadors?

What were the religious and cultural beliefs of the Spanish conquistadors?

The religious and cultural beliefs of the Spanish conquistadors were deeply rooted in their Catholic faith and the desire to spread Christianity. They saw themselves as soldiers of God, on a mission to convert the indigenous peoples they encountered to Catholicism. The conquistadors believed that it was their duty to bring salvation to the native populations and to eradicate any other religious practices or beliefs that they deemed as pagan or heretical.

In addition to their religious beliefs, the Spanish conquistadors also held a strong sense of cultural superiority. They viewed their own culture as superior to that of the indigenous peoples and believed that it was their duty to impose Spanish language, customs, and traditions upon the conquered territories. This often led to the suppression and erasure of indigenous cultures, as the conquistadors sought to assimilate the native populations into Spanish society.

Overall, the religious and cultural beliefs of the Spanish conquistadors were intertwined, with their Catholic faith serving as the driving force behind their conquests and the imposition of Spanish culture on the lands they colonized.