Spanish Renaissance Art and the Conquest of the Americas

Renaissance Culture, Architecture, and Art in Spain

Renaissance architecture and art spread throughout Spain from the 16th century onwards.

Architecture Styles of the Spanish Renaissance

• Plateresque: Characterized by ornate decoration. All kinds of structures were built, including palaces, universities, and hospitals. Example: University of Salamanca.
• Classicism: The decoration was simplified and reduced. Example: University of Alcalá de Henares.
• Herrerian: Marked by an almost total absence of decoration. Example: The Monastery of San Lorenzo el Escorial.

Sculpture and Painting

Sculpture

Main features included:

• Religious themes.
• Use of different materials, notably wood.

Painting

Main features included:

• Religious themes.
• Notable artist: El Greco, who lived in Toledo.

The Discovery and Conquest of America

The Age of Discovery was driven by several key factors:

• The Turkish presence made it necessary to look for a new route to Asia.
• Advances in cartography and navigation, such as the development of the caravel.
• Inspiration from traveller's tales, notably those of Marco Polo (1254–1324).
• European desire for wealth and opportunity.

The Portuguese sailed along the coast of Africa, while Christopher Columbus set off from Spain on his journey west.

Major Indigenous Civilizations

When the Spanish arrived in America, they encountered numerous indigenous cultures:

• The Aztec: Led by an emperor. War was a crucial activity, providing land and tributes.
• The Maya: Occupied Mexico and Central America. They utilized good lands, crops, and livestock, and possessed advanced knowledge of astronomy.
• The Inca: Occupied Peru. They grew crops (such as the potato) and kept livestock (such as llamas). They were led by the Inca emperor.

The Conquest and Colonization of America

The conquest of America was a relatively short process. The Spanish forces, though small, were aided by the element of surprise and internal conflicts among indigenous groups.

• Hernán Cortés, aided by local allies, conquered the Aztec Empire.
• Francisco Pizarro took advantage of fighting within the Inca Empire.
• The Spanish also achieved the conquest of the Maya lands.

After the conquest, the colonization of the American continent began. New institutions were established to manage the colonies, including the Casa de Contratación, the Consejo de Indias, and the establishment of viceroyalties.

Consequences of the Discoveries

Political Consequences

• Spain and Portugal became major colonial empires.
• In Spain, laws were passed (though often poorly enforced) intended to defend the native American people.

Economic Consequences

• Large quantities of gold and silver reached Europe from America.
• Animals such as horses, cows, sheep, and pigs were introduced to America, as well as new crops.

Social Consequences

• The indigenous population decreased significantly due to wars and disease.
• Many Spanish emigrated to America, leading to the creation of a large number of mestizos (people of mixed Spanish and indigenous descent).

Cultural Consequences

• The Christian religion and the Spanish language were introduced into America.