Causes of the conquistadors should search for in the history of Spain itself. Several centuries before the discovery of the New World was the main occupation of the Spanish war against the Moors. Over the century, formed their character. And in 1492 year falls the last stronghold of the Moors - Granada. "With the fall of Granada was suddenly, What is wrong, which should be killed, no more and no one else to fight for the triumph of the Cross. Fighting vehicle suddenly stopped caballero. It was at this point appeared on stage Christopher Columbus "* , who pointed to the new lands in the west, new wealth.
About, who traveled to the New World can be judged by the extant ship lists. 40 is yy. XX century in Spain was published the "Catalog of passengers of India". It is known, that the royal power, monopolized everything related to the Indies, after the first swimming Columbus issued decree, according to which anyone is going to sail had to get a special license. Thus the crown did not want to admit to their new land of the Jews, Mavrov, convicted and have been in the hands of the Inquisition. But still it will remain forever unknown how many people actually crossed the ocean, because in those days people knew how to circumvent the law. Some researchers say, that immigration is a real one and a half times more than the stated documented.
I have not had a chance to analyze the catalog, since all the volumes are in the Library of Spain. From the book by Boyd-Bowman, I found out, that the greatest number of emigrants were: andalusiytsy, estramadurtsy, Aragonese and the inhabitants of Navarra. In the initial period were andalusiytsy 36,9 % of all the inhabitants of the Iberian Peninsula, bound for America.
By a lucky chance I came across an article about the inhabitants of the province of Albacete, who went to India 16 century. The main part of the inhabitants of the province of Albacete lived in villages. They were peasants, day laborers, Few - craftsmen. Legally, it was a non-superuser class, which was supposed to pay taxes. And it was they who went to India, when there was such a possibility. At least not officially registered no gentleman, which would have crossed the ocean.
La Casa de Contratación left the information as how, that most of the people leaving were not married(Single) and went to work in subservient. cases, when they left entire families with children were a rarity. Children not registered immigration.
Note, that people are satisfied with their life does not give up and do not chase headlong for a wealth of features. In India, they went, who for one reason or another I have not found a place for himself in Spain. Usually, conquistadors were impoverished hidalgos and caballeros. men from 18 to 25 years. Julio Villanueva Sotomayor says, that only 30% were hidalgo (the lowest title of the Spanish nobility), all the others were people not belonging to any caste at all. People traveling to the New World seemed Conquista, perhaps, the only field of activity, where it was possible to achieve success, since the strict class system in Spain at that time did not mean other ways.
Among nobles land had passed from father to eldest son, the other sons could become either priests, or to take up arms. Work in the field as ordinary peasants considered shameful. For many centuries, the conquest shaped the character of the inhabitants of the Iberian Peninsula. "Eight centuries of the war was the main occupation of the nation, martial art - the most revered of the arts, military valor - the most important virtue. The shortest way to achieve wealth, power and glory passed through the battlefield. The Spanish know war grows up by leaps and bounds. The state is not obtained by hard work and accumulation, and during the successful military operations ... " . And this vision of the future gentleman actually imbibed with mother's milk. Many historians of the Middle Ages called the Spaniards the most warlike nations of the time.
The important role played by the, that far from Europe, Spaniard became free from both the royal power (eg, The situation with payments to the Crown at the beginning of the XVI century.), and from church. It is worth recalling, that at the end 15 century Spain experienced a renaissance Institute Inquisition. AT 1481 g. King Ferdinand of Castile established a new Inquisition, led by a Dominican Thomas Torquemada. It has become a tool of absolutism in the fight against all dissidents. Besides heretics, enemies of the Church and the King she pursued as Marranos and the Moriscos (adopted Christianity Jews and Muslims). Total in Madrid 1481 by 1808 g. went up the fire 31 912 people almost 300 000 suffered heavy punishment. for the first 18 years under the sentence of the Inquisition were burned alive 10 220 human.
But back to the topic of the Conquistadors. Financing was carried out at his own expense. Therefore conquistadors persistence can be explained as a desire to recoup costs.
there 3 main types of financing. • All costs lay on the shoulders of Captain-General. Of production, he then removed the money spent on equipment. • Association of multiple contributors. • The most common form is similar to shareholder campaign. Each participant could put many.
Recall again, that were free from the power of the crown in the New World conquistadors, they had to give to the king only a fifth of the production, which also undoubtedly inspired to wade through the impenetrable forest, marshes and swamps in search of gold.
It is worth noting, that arrived from the Old World some time before any expedition just lived in the conquered already at that time the land. At this time there is a kind of natural selection. Because this land was all differently. Some could not stand, and went to the next world, Few returned home. Those who remain have learned to live again. They turned to the people "special hardening, indomitable energy, with unbridled imagination, infinitely hardy and persistent, ready to do anything to achieve their goal, looking into the unknown, Europeans are no longer in their consciousness ... "* example, Hernan Cortes held in Cuba 13 years, before he made his expedition.
It should also pay attention to the fact, spiritually formed the conquistadors. Since the end of the XV century Spain began to gain popularity folk songs. In light of constantly fall collections kansonero and Ballads. Many major Spanish poets of the era wrote songs and ballads in the national spirit. It is also widely used ancient "kantares de Hesta" - songs about the exploits of the heroes of the Reconquest. And future conquistadors grew hearing these songs all around.
undoubtedly, when the conquistadors arrived in the New World, they began to feel the followers of the heroes of the Reconquista. Also do not forget, that the conquistadors - people of the Middle Ages. While the European mind was full of different tales about the people (creatures) inhabiting the far north or south. About India and China know more myths, than the truth and this is very developed imagination, which later also became one of the motivations to cross the Atlantic Ocean (Sea Darkness, as it was called in those days,) and find evidence scenic fiction, existed in European society.
In Spain he was particularly in favor romance, which is also largely determined the spiritual aspect of the conquistador. This novel describes the exploits of a knight, who defeated hordes of enemies, overcame monsters and villains punished, but most importantly I traveled constantly. Not surprising, that the conquistadors compared themselves with fictional knights, because they, too, have traveled to distant lands and have seen a variety of miracles, and conquered whole nations, Although the number was very small.
By a lucky chance I came upon the publication of the colonial chroniclers , which is given a psychological portrait of the Castilians, sostovlyaet are one of the largest regional group on their way to America. The inhabitants of Castile psychologists distinguish nizhesleduschie features: middle-height, bodied, Moderation in eating, accustomed to hard work and are able to move great hardship. irritability, nerve, under the external indifference sometimes lurk deep and very strong feelings. The most notable features - irritability and self-esteem. They pretend to serious, important, the proud, leisurely, important people, and even being in poverty retain the arrogant behavior of the lords and masters, indifferent to the vital needs. they are generous, but compassionate, generous, but only for friends. They are heartless with animals, with people, with themselves, and very contrast with the inhabitants of other provinces because of their lack of good nature. (their insensitivity, amounting to cruelty, and experienced Indians). They always aspire to the great, important, they comply with many formalities. Trying to carry out their task as best you can, and build on the unrealistic plans, which ultimately remain unfulfilled.
Castilian does not differ a good military discipline, but militant fighter, Formed from the spontaneity, self-worth, he is an incorrigible adventurer ... It's too religious, sometimes it comes to fanaticism ...
In America we drove adventurers, dreamers, people hoped, that turned up the case to get rich. Idleness was a motive for pride, and the work is underestimated.
Spain at that time was a democratic and at the same time, anarchic, opposing hierarchy, nedistsiplinirovannoy and pride. Hispanic "adds" all the blame on the state, but it also requires. "Spanish Interests, consisting equally of greed and sense of religious mission, They were not compatible with each other. People, go there (the New World) as colonists, in fact, were more adventurers, than settlers. their leaders, comes from the nobility of humble, were from childhood accustomed to intergeneric strife, and the New World, far from the intervention and control of the state, He gave free rein to their instincts of war and internecine strife. Together with the sailors, accustomed to hard labor in the long jump across the Atlantic, They were ready for the discovery and conquest, but little what else, and in this the hard way should have a long time to make sure poor Indians " *.
Before the conquistadors was not an ordinary task: first, they should "explore the mysteries of the earth", that is to penetrate into the territory, find out who and how there lives, then should describe the space, and eventually populate it, ie. redraw on a European manner, because, how Gomara wrote: "... who does not populate, It does not make good the conquest; and not the land is subdued, no attention pagans to Christianity; therefore, the main task should be the conquistador the settlement ". Leaving Spain people do not think to come back. They were going to make a new earth their home. And in a decent house should be a servant, and servants must understand the owner, respect his authority and system of values. To this end, the Indians joined to Christianity. And in general, the Spaniards considered the "Christianizing" the main purpose of the Conquest, which proves the fact, that "the activities of Catholic priests, It was part of the conquest expeditions, in full scale unfolded even after, the Indians were subdued, and plunder became nothing " .
And Reconquista, lasted at Pirineyskom Peninsula 8 ages, It was aimed at the liberation of the territory from the infidels. When all infidels were driven, time "turned up" unjust Indians, which also had to instruct on the right path.
Many chroniclers say Spanish excessive religoznost. Many examples can be found in the chronicles of Bernal Diaz de Castillo, who constantly talks about Cortez, We are trying to hoist the Orthodox cross immediately after the capture of another Indian town.
The desire to capture new territories comes from life on the peninsula, Where, as stated above, War was regarded as the only true and irreproachable through the acquisition of wealth. Honor - is the basis of consciousness of any Spaniard of the time, which confirms the Spanish proverb "Donde no hay honor, there is no pain" (Where there is no honor, no pain). And no action, committed in time of war, It does not stain the honor of the Conquistadors. murder of unarmed, torture, hostage-taking - and the Spaniards and fought in Europe. It was ok. It could be considered an insult to a charge of cowardice or timidity.
Conquistadors and chased another goal: leave their names in history. They are clearly aware of the historic nature of their actions. they describe their actions in their chronicles as something unique, unparalleled history. Very often it happens, when the captain, successfully spent their expedition under someone's beginning then separated and fitted out his expedition. It was, eg, from Hernando de Soto, one of the closest associates of Pizarro, who returned from Peru, so wealthy, that even the royal family took him in debt. But just was not enough wealth. On an expedition to Peru, he was a captain, because he started a campaign in North America, where he managed not only to perpetuate his name, but also to find his death. And it is not the thirst for money, because the rank of captain were already quite rich, and in that, to write your name in history.
The conquistadors were amazing people, that (largely) We never retreat in face of difficulties. If they turned back, it is only with a view to gain strength and make a new attempt. And should not detract from the fact, that the conquistadors pushed forward thirst for discovery. Now we are hard to imagine, what is this feeling, because the map does not remain white spots. But then it was a massive experience, and people wanted to relive the feeling of "I first saw it," over and over again. Also, at every turn, they expect to see a miracle "migrated" from the books of Amadis of Gaul and other romances.
Renat Ismailov
