Lecture: The Spiritual Conquest of the New World

After the Spanish conquest of the Aztecs the 13th of August of 1521, a new order of life began in the New Spain that made all natives subjects of the Crown, and in need to be acculturated as well as converted. For this massive challenge, mendicant religious orders came from Europe and in the following 50 years organized the evangelization of over 10 million natives in all corners of Mesoamerica. This is a brief overview focusing on how the Dominican Order of Preachers was able to successfully win the heart and soul of Oaxacans through their gentleness, eloquence, music, poetry & art.