Imperialism: Compare China And Yucatan

Imperialism: Compare/Contrast

Imperialism is defined as the policy, practice, or advocacy of extending the power and dominion of a nation especially by direct territorial acquisitions or by gaining indirect control over the political or economic life of other areas; broadly : the extension or imposition of power, authority, or influence.

It was in the late 17th century that the Franciscans started their conquest of the Yucatan. This conquest of the Yucatan much like the Jesuits in China, was identifiably imperial in its intent. At first they were received without contest and several of the Itza even gave their consent to be baptized. However, it was when the Itza King refused to convert to Christianity that conflict arose. Not too long after this a small group of 60 soldiers from Spain and their Mayan allies went to the PetÐ"©n and were met by Itza warriors and knocked back. After this setback a larger force was sent to the Yucatan by the Spaniards and in 1967 a group of 200 plus Spanish and Mayan soldiers were sent with artillery, horses, and a supply train through the jungle. It was in 1967 that the Franciscans had accomplished part of their goal of capturing the Yucatan capital of Tayasal. Upon takeover of the capital, the Franciscans insisted on the burning of the Itza library of books and the destruction of all the idols.

“The friars were to ascertain which of a man’s several women was his вЂ?legitimate’ wife, and compel him вЂ" by flogging, if necessary вЂ" into accepting her. Certain procedures were to be followed at meals: the sitting around the table, the cleanliness of the table cloth, the folding of the hands, the saying of Grace, all being laid out in obsessive and wistful detail.” (Clendinnen 58)

This mission of the Franciscan friars was one that was structured around a violent imperialism. Forcing their traditions and beliefs upon the people of the Yucatan and taking over their capital.

“Depleted villages had new populations grafted on to them: others were forcibly cleared and burnt. Often with no more warning than the unheralded arrival of a solitary friar, Indians were ordered out of their houses, which were then put to the torch, along with their carefully nurtured fruit tress and their few meager possessions. Then the dazed and weeping Indians were herded off to the new sites the friars judged вЂ?convenient’.” (Clendinnen 59)

Unlike this forceful takeover of the Yucatan by the Franciscan friars, the Society of Jesuits in China integrated themselves into the empirical government of China and slowly made the changes necessary, using cultural or soft imperialism techniques.

The projects of the Jesuits in China were identifiably imperial in there intent. They are one of the most noteworthy interactions in the early times between China and the Western world for this exact reason. They were also so notable because of the role that they played in opening up China to the world of Western science, culture and knowledge. For the better part of the 16th and 17th century in China the Jesuit delegation that was put in place was the most influential group of Christian missionaries in that country. These missions not only were used to introduce the Christian culture to the people of China but they were also used for imperialistic purposed to gain control over the people and the culture, and spawned Catholic and Protestant missions throughout the nation of China

In 1582, three decades after the Jesuits first effort to reach China by St. Francis Xavier, Matteo Ricci attempted to reach the Chinese people through mission work. This mission by Matteo Ricci and other important figures was successful in introducing Christianity and the Western culture