Christianization of central Mexico

E19354

aspect of Spanish colonization of the Americas historical process religious conversion campaign

The Christianization of central Mexico was the widespread conversion of Indigenous peoples to Christianity following Spanish colonization, marked by missionary campaigns, the destruction and repurposing of native temples, and the blending of Catholic and pre-Hispanic religious practices.

Aliases (2)

Evangelization of New Spain ×1
Massacre at the Templo Mayor ×1

Statements (54)

Predicate	Object
instanceOf	aspect of Spanish colonization of the Americas → historical process → religious conversion campaign →
appliesToPopulation	Indigenous peoples of central Mexico → Nahua peoples → Otomi peoples → Purépecha-adjacent groups in central highlands →
carriedOutBy	Augustinian missionaries → Dominican missionaries → Franciscan missionaries → secular clergy of the Catholic Church →
characterizedBy	coexistence of Catholic and pre-Hispanic beliefs → iconographic blending of Indigenous and Christian symbols → missionary campaigns targeting children and youth → religious syncretism → use of Indigenous elites as intermediaries →
endTime	gradual process extending into 17th century →
hasCause	Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire → imperial policy of the Spanish Crown → missionary activity by Catholic religious orders →
hasEffect	creation of new Catholic parishes → destruction of many Indigenous codices and religious objects → formation of syncretic religious practices → integration of Indigenous communities into colonial ecclesiastical structures → redefinition of Indigenous religious festivals as Catholic feasts → suppression of many pre-Hispanic rituals → widespread nominal conversion to Catholicism →
hasMainRegion	Central Mexico → Valley of Mexico → former Aztec Empire territories →
involves	construction of convent complexes (conventos) in central Mexico → establishment of doctrinas (mission parishes) → translation of Christian doctrine into Nahuatl and other Indigenous languages →
partOf	Spanish colonization of Mexico →
relatedTo	Evangelization of New Spain → Spanish missions in the Americas → religious history of Mexico →
religionIntroduced	Christianity → Roman Catholicism →
religionReplaced	Aztec religion → pre-Hispanic Mesoamerican religions →
startTime	1520s → early 16th century →
supportedBy	Council of the Indies → Spanish Crown → Spanish colonial authorities in New Spain →
usesMethod	catechism instruction → construction of churches and monasteries → destruction of Indigenous temples → education in mission schools → mass baptisms → religious theater and didactic plays → repurposing of Indigenous sacred sites → use of Indigenous languages in evangelization →

Referenced by (3)

Subject (surface form when different)	Predicate
Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire →	hasEffect
Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire ("Massacre at the Templo Mayor") →	hasPart
Christianization of central Mexico ("Evangelization of New Spain") →	relatedTo