Why was Spanish colonization of Central and South America so much more effective than, say, British colonization of India or China at suppressing indigenous culture (religion, language, practices, etc)?

by hugpusher
shotpun

  1. Diseases. Everything that couldn't touch anyone living between Beijing and Barcelona was completely new to the immune systems of the New World. 90%(?) of the indigenous population of the New World would die of disease, which would itself destroy their culture.

  2. The British in India and China began with an indirect system of trade companies, puppet states, and similar tactics to increase influence in the region before they actually began claiming territory. Well into the 1800s, the map of India was far more complex than a homogenous red diamond, with British influence extending far beyond geopolitical borders.

  3. In contrast, the Spanish directly conquered native nations, which did wonders for suppression of indigenous culture; native populations would be killed, enslaved, and expelled all at once.

  4. British colonization of India came something like 150-200 years after Spanish colonization of Mexico. Populations had grown and technology had improved, allowing the people there to more effectively preserve their cultural heritage.

  5. The sheer number of people living in pre-colonial India and China was many, many times higher than the population of pre-colonial Latin America. More people means more speakers, more people of the faith, and more soldiers to defend the borders.