During the late 1400s, Spain and Portugal initiated an exploration frenzy that swept across Europe. This is referred to by many historians as the beginning of the Modern Age of Europe because of the economic and political impacts it had on the continent. A closer look at this era reveals how exploration itself heavily influenced Spanish domination in the western hemisphere. “When technological developments turned the wish for new long-distance trade routes on the open seas into a practical possibility, a global economy based on trade began to emerge”(Callaghan 129-30). Spain’s large empire attracted the Italian explorer Christopher Columbus. He is widely credited for the discovery of the “New World”.  

At the time of the voyage of Christopher Columbus, the Roman Catholic Church was adamantly one of the most influential religious denominations throughout all of Europe. In fact, the Catholic Church was so authoritative in Europe at this time they essentially ruled Spain by proxy.  King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella are referred to as “Catholic Sovereigns” in the log of Christopher Columbus. Warren H. Carroll notes a Catholic reference in the personal log of Christopher Columbus:

“On October 10 the men of the Santa Maria came to the verge of open mutiny.  Columbus tells us in his Log how he answered them: 

They [the crew] could stand it no longer. They grumbled and complained of the long voyage, and I reproached them for their lack of spirit, telling them that, for better or worse, they had to complete the enterprise on which the Catholic Sovereigns [Isabel and Fernando] had sent them. I cheered them on as best I could, telling them of all the honors and rewards they were about to receive. I also told the men that it was useless to complain, for I had started out to find the Indies and would continue until I had accomplished that mission, with the help of Our Lord”(Carroll).     

     With this established history in mind, it should be noted that, we can still see the influence of the Catholic Church today. Sociologists and historians can point to the Modern Age of Europe as to why Catholicism is popular among many in the Americas. “Mexico, second to Brazil, has the largest Catholic population in the world; and not surprisingly, the largest number of Catholic immigrants to the United States come from Mexico. Mexico also sends the largest number of Protestant immigrants to the United States. Mexicans come to the United States in such large numbers that they bolster both the Catholic Church and Protestant congregations” (Murray).   Bruce Murray quotes Gastón Espinosa an author on cultural Latino religions, “Mexico is the largest Catholic and Protestant-sending country to the United States. Everybody wins numerically. Catholic and Protestant denominations are growing in raw numbers”(Murray).  Furthermore, the Catholic popularity throughout Latin culture in more recent history can be seen in the warm acceptance/approval of the current leader of the Catholic Church. “In the Little Argentina neighborhood of Miami Beach, where restaurants specialize in Argentine barbecue and bakeries sell dulce de leche pastries and strong coffee on the side, there is palatable pride over Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio becoming the first Pope from Latin America”(Gómez).  

   Ultimately, the historical impact of both Spain and Portugal was so influential that the world would not be what it is today without the Modern Age of Europe. There is further evidence of this within the Treaty of Tordesillas.  “As early as 1479 Spain and Portugal signed an agreement regulating their perspective spheres of trade outside of European waters. The award was made permanent between the two powers by the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494”(Johnson 8). This treaty influenced the migration of people throughout the New World, and reminds us all about the importance of history.  Gracias Cristóbal Colón. Almirante de la Mar Océana.

Works Cited

Callaghan, Byrn O’. An Illustrarted History of the USA. Edinburgh: Longman Group, 1990.

Carroll , Warren H. “Honoring Christopher Columbus.” Eternal Word Television Network , Global Catholic Network, 1999, www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/honoring-christopher-columbus-4080. 

This article was taken from the Summer 1992 issue of “Faith & Reason”

Gómez, Serafin. FOX News Latino . 14 March 2013. 27 March 2013. <http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2013/03/14/us-latinos-hope-pope-pick-will-bring-community-members-back-to-church/>.

Johnson, Paul. A History of the American People . New York: Harper Collins Publishers , 1997.

Murray, Bruce. Latino Religion in the U.S.: Demographic Shifts and Trend (NHCLC). 2013. 24 March 2013. <http://www.nhclc.org/news/latino-religion-us-demographic-shifts-and-trend>.

Photo Credit: GoodFreePhotos.Public Domain.<https://www.goodfreephotos.com/people/Christopher-columbus-portrait.jpg.php>