1/23    Dear History Channel buffs-- why did the Spaniards try to
        conquer instead of colonizing?
        \_ Huh? What makes you think they didn't colonize?!?!?!
           \_ Conquerer: "We are God and you will worship us and give
                us gold or else Montezuma will die."
              Colonizer: "Here's 22 trinkets, talk to you later sucker!"
              \_ Do you know anything about California history?
              \_ That is a strange use of the word "colonize" but I see
                 what you mean. The Spainards were more interested in
                 converting the heathens to Christianity and also brought
                 with them a more fuedal society, which they converted into
                 the encomienda model in the New World. Also, the Mayans
                 and Aztecs peasant farmers were more used to a sort of
                 fuedal society, so the change was not as great for them
                 as it would have been for the Iroquois or Cherokee.
                 \_ is United States conquering or colonizing the
                    State of Iraq?
                    \_ Hopefully neither, by your definition (both of which
                       demand a permanent settlement).