Markéta Křížová: The Czech Lands, Europe and the World

Missions and the Conquering of America

Lecture in a series conceived by Markéta Křížová (Centre for Ibero-American Studies at the Arts Faculty of Charles University)

In the Czech context, the term “Jesuit mission” has a negative meaning. In the context of American history, it has come to be regarded as the personification of the efforts of Europeans to impose their civilisation in the face of the “barbarism” of non-European civilisations. However, the missionaries’ ultimate object was the “old” world, i.e., European society. The aim of the missions was not just to spread the “good word” but also to create on the American continent an ideal Christian society. In our age the subject of missions is presented as “cultural genocide” and as a cover for European imperialism. However, is it possible from today’s perspective to condemn efforts stemming from deep-rooted religiosity?