Describe the means by which Spain attempted to defend and spread Catholicism at home and abroad
At home, Spain attempted to defend and spread Catholicism through the Spanish Inquisition, a brutal campaign aimed at identifying and punishing heretics, Jews, Muslims, and conversos (converted Jews and Muslims) who were suspected of practicing their old religions in secret. The Spanish Inquisition used torture and execution to enforce religious conformity and root out any perceived threats to the Catholic faith.
Abroad, Spain spread Catholicism through its colonization of the Americas and parts of Africa and Asia. Spanish explorers and conquerors, such as Christopher Columbus and Hernan Cortes, often brought missionaries with them to convert indigenous populations to Catholicism. Missionaries established schools, hospitals, and churches to spread the Catholic faith and also established labor systems that forced indigenous people to adopt Spanish culture and religion.
In addition to these methods, Spain also used diplomatic alliances and military force to defend Catholicism abroad. The Spanish Armada, for example, was a powerful naval fleet sent by Spain to combat Protestantism and assert Catholic dominance in Europe. Spain also funded the missions of famous explorers such as Francis Xavier, who traveled to Asia to convert people to Catholicism.
Overall, Spain employed a combination of force, coercion, and diplomacy to defend and spread Catholicism both at home and abroad during the early modern period.