Religious Justification:
* "God's Will": The Spanish believed they were chosen by God to spread Christianity and convert the indigenous peoples. They saw themselves as instruments of divine will, bringing salvation to the "heathens" of the Americas.
* "Just War Doctrine": This doctrine, based on Christian principles, allowed for wars waged in defense of faith and for the greater good. The Spanish argued that their conquest was a "just war" against the "evil" practices of the indigenous people, such as polytheism and human sacrifice.
Political Justification:
* "Right of Discovery": The Spanish asserted the right to claim lands that had not been "discovered" or claimed by Christian nations. This doctrine, based on the Papal Bull of 1493, gave them a legal basis for claiming the New World.
* "Divine Right of Kings": The Spanish monarchy believed that their rule was divinely ordained, giving them the right to conquer and exploit new territories.
* "Expansion of Empire": The Spanish conquest was seen as a way to expand the Spanish Empire, increase its power, and secure its wealth.
Economic Justification:
* "Gold and Glory": The Spanish were driven by the desire for gold, silver, and other riches. They believed that the Americas held vast resources that would enrich Spain.
* "Colonial Exploitation": The Spanish established a system of colonial exploitation, using indigenous labor to extract resources and build wealth for Spain. This was justified by the belief that the indigenous people were inferior and needed to be "civilized" by the Spanish.
Social Justification:
* "Superiority of European Culture": The Spanish believed that their culture, religion, and civilization were superior to those of the indigenous peoples. They justified the conquest as a way to bring "civilization" to the Americas.
* "Social Mobility": The conquest offered opportunities for social mobility for those who participated, both within Spain and within the colonies themselves.
Important Notes:
* Moral Ambiguity: While these justifications were used to legitimize the conquest, they were often used to mask the brutality and exploitation that took place.
* Indigenous Resistance: Indigenous peoples resisted the Spanish conquest in many ways, from open warfare to passive resistance, challenging the Spanish justifications.
* Historiography: The history of the Spanish conquest is complex and contested, with different perspectives on the motivations and justifications involved.
It is essential to understand the context of the time and the different perspectives to gain a comprehensive understanding of the motivations behind the Spanish conquest of the New World.