13 ms·
Conversos and Moriscos were overrepresented among the early Spanish settlers [0]. Same story in Portuguese territories as well. An exodus of Sephardim and Mus
by alephnerd 2y ago
Conversos and Moriscos were overrepresented among the early Spanish settlers [0].
Same story in Portuguese territories as well.
An exodus of Sephardim and Muslims was a win-win for the Spanish crown - they'd lose (in their eyes) a potential 5th column in their competition against the Ottoman Empire as well as have manpower to nominally stake their claim in the New World.
[0] - https://www.jewishideas.org/article/between-toleration-and-persecution-relationship-inquisition-and-crypto-jews-northern https://www.jewishideas.org/article/between-toleration-and-p...
- jjk166 2y agoAt the time, the Spanish were completely unaware that Columbus would find a land that could be settled. The goal of the expedition was finding a route to East Asia to establish trade with those known-to-be-inhabited areas. Colonization was a pivot after Columbus did not find Asia.
- namaria 2y agoAlso colonization didn't start in earnest until several decades later. For a generation or two the exploitation of the Americas was largely extractive.