"Within fifty years of the Spanish arrival, the population of the Taino natives dwindled from some one million people to about two hundred."" (Bailey) This impression upon the Native American people in the New World, although not optimistic, shaped and limited cultures for thousands of years. .
The Spanish began their bid towards the discovery of gold and silver in the New World and in turn, completely changed the world's economy. The flow of gold and silver raised consumer costs in Europe and created a base towards the modern commercial banking system. This increase of bullion from the New World found a parallel growth of commerce and manufacturing between different countries. The silver from the Americas was also used for international trade with Asia, for the sellers needed New World silver to interact with other countries. Unlike the English, the Spanish settlements were scattered over large areas. Most of the population was present in Peru and Mexico, where the majority of silver was produced. The conversion of Native Americans to Christianity often resulted in violence. Although mostly successful, some of the missionaries' efforts to end native religious customs disturbed the Indians and eventually created revolts (i.e. Popé's Rebellion of 1680). Nonetheless, the Spanish missionaries of Father Junipero Sonoma noted the success of the Spanish concerning the conversion of the Native Americans. Serra founded a chain of twenty-one missions that went as far as Sonoma and Christianized three hundred thousand native Californians (Kennedy). Another political success that the Spanish epitomized was a technique known as Encomiendas. This allowed the government to give certain colonists Indians, if they tried to make them Christians. This was just another way of inducing slavery among the Indians; however, it was to the benefit of the Spanish and can be depicted as a success.
