church

Church architecture as a symbol of European culture

As the conquest of the Americas was largely based on religion, a common feature of the colonial landscape was the church. The church structure was not only a symbol of religion but also became a symbol of European culture. In many cases the religious holidays of the Europeans and the natives coincided so that it was not difficult for the native population to incorporate the new religion into their own. For example, aspects of Catholicism, such as the host of saints, could be understood in terms of the native polytheism. The churches that were built, although derived from a European tradition, increasingly incorportated traditional American motifs. This occurred as the local artisans became more adept at building according to European design.

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