Question

Evaluate the extent to which christianity changed societies in latin america in the period 1500–1800

Answer 1

The influence of Christianity in Latin America transformed the social, political, economic and religious ways of societies in the period of 1500-1800.

The evangelist from Europe did an extensive and an important labor of changing the Indians minds and beliefs. The Indians tribes along South America had strong ties to Mother Nature and everything it represented. The Aztecs, the Mayans, and the Incas based their religions in many deities or many Gods that were represented by celestial stars, animals or the kingdom of nature. Some tribes like the Aztecs and Mayans did human sacrifices to honor their Gods.

European evangelist began to change those practices and introduced or forces in some places, the ideals of Chrstianity. First evangelists like Bartolomeo Diaz del Castillo, encountered heavy resistant from the Indians that rejected such a strong change in their lives. What evangelist did was to establish their teachings centers and then, built the churches in the same exact places where the Indians used to have their ceremonial centers.  

From then on, Catholicism was a big part of the New Spanish societies across America. Traditions, culture and school, were heavy influenced by Christianity in all aspects of life.

Answer 2

Christianity changed societies in Latin America in many ways, the european evangelizers presented the mass to people, act that was not done before, they began to name villages and cities after Catholic saints from Europe, but soon after they began to recognize saints proper to America , and Christianity was quickly taking root, the culture became a purely religious culture, the customs would change and religious dates would begin to be celebrated. That's how Christianity was taking power, taking root in Latin American cultures.