ABSTRACT

A new continents supposedly inhabited by infidels, America was seen as an extensions of the "reconquest," Thus the wars of conquest took on religious connotations. The intrepid, self-confident Spaniards planted the cross and the sword on American soil with the surety that might made right, and that everything was theirs and theirs alone. Hernan Cortes left Cuba for the mainland with 550 soldiers to seek gold and silver. Of course there was that other side of the conquest, the religious conquest. The conquered brought about a subtle conquest of the conquerors. So much for the spiritual aspect of the conquest. The king called his learned individuals for advice, and according to their recommendations, the Laws of Burgos were drawn up in 1512—1513—almost a decade before the conquest of Mexico.