Week 5: European Rivals and Atlantic Repercussion – Atlantic World Ch. 4

Chapter Four of The Atlantic World heavily focuses on culture and religion, and imperialism and commerce of the European nations. European nations have always wanted to expand their sphere of influence beyond their borders and one way to expand their influence is to make sure that their behaviors of imperialism and commerce are in action. Spain was already in action by the 1530s and 1540s by expanding their influence in Mexico by “locat[ing] massive silver deposits in Pachuca, Taxco, Guanajuato, and Zacatecas” (Atlantic World, 115). In order for the Spanish to use their new found treasures at home, they made sure that their ships were protected from any group that wanted to do harm. Kyle Kelsay makes a clear point in regards to groups that want to do harm to the ships of Spain. The reason why some groups want to do harm to other merchants is because of they (in reference to corsairs, a pirate (Atlantic World, 116)) were harmed physically, mentally, or a combination of both and they felt it is only appropriate to do the same actions that those affected had to endure. Once Spain had received their newly acquired treasures, they decided to use it to expand their sphere on the European continent by declaring wars on other nations that eventually failed and left the monarchy bankrupt “multiple times” (Atlantic World, 116). Even though Spain’s imperialistic actions did expand their influence, it did leave then without money.

Culture and religion were also important in expanding on one nation’s sphere of influence, but those that lacked the resources (i.e. money and power) to do it could not. Everybody in Western Europe was Catholic until 1517 when Martin Luther, “an Augustinian friar challenged” the entire religion from the Pope to the practices of the Church. Due to his challenging of the Church, he was able to form a “Religious Revolution” that was able to break down the practices of old and form new factions of the Catholic Religion (Atlantic World, 117 – 122). Because of this “Religious Revolution,” I believe that imperialism and commerce also faced reforms based on how the church was able to reform itself in accessibility, sociability, and openness.