Describe the means by which Spain attempted to defend and spread Catholicism at home and abroad. thanks
In Spain, the Catholic Church played a central role in society and was closely tied to the monarchy. This allowed the Spanish government to use the church as a tool to defend and spread Catholicism both at home and abroad.
At home, Spain implemented strict religious policies to ensure the dominance of Catholicism. The Spanish Inquisition was established in the late 15th century to root out heresy and ensure religious conformity. Those deemed heretics were punished, often brutally, in order to maintain Catholic orthodoxy.
The Spanish government also used education as a means to spread Catholicism. The Jesuits, a Catholic religious order, played a key role in education and were influential in shaping the religious beliefs of the population. The government supported the Jesuits in their efforts to establish schools and universities to indoctrinate the population with Catholic teachings.
Abroad, Spain used its colonial empire to spread Catholicism to other parts of the world. Spanish missionaries traveled to the Americas, Asia, and Africa to convert indigenous peoples to Catholicism. They established missions and schools to teach the Catholic faith and convert the local populations.
Overall, Spain used a combination of religious policies, education, and missionary work to defend and spread Catholicism both at home and abroad. The close relationship between the Spanish government and the Catholic Church enabled Spain to effectively promote Catholicism as the dominant religion in the country and in its overseas territories.