What was life in the mission like?
The missionaries themselves lived a life of piety and poverty and were in constant danger and fear for their lives. Along with their Indian charges, they, too, toiled in the missions, farmlands, and ranches.
What was life like on a Spanish mission?
They cooked, washed, mended clothes and were doctors and nurses for the Natives. In addition, they built houses, churches and tended livestock. A mission strongly needed an Native population. With a stable Native population, many crops could be grown and well-tended, and the mission could be self-sustaining.
What did Spanish soldiers live in?
presidio
What was a presidio and what was their purpose in Texas?
The presidios were oases of safety for travelers who camped in their shadows. Around them the soldiers and their families built homes. Merchants came to sell goods, farmers came to plant their crops, and small civil settlements grew.
Who owns the missions in California?
The California missions began in the late 18th century as an effort to convert Native Americans to Catholicism and expand European territory. Spain was responsible for the missions, which scholars believe were attempts to colonize the Pacific coast of North America.
What is the most famous mission in California?
Mission San Diego de Alcalá
What are the 21 missions of California?
California Missions
- Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá, San Diego.
- Old Mission San Luis Rey de Francia, Oceanside.
- Mission San Juan Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano.
- San Gabriel Arcángel, San Gabriel Valley.
- Mission San Fernando Rey de España, Mission Hills, San Fernando Valley.
- Old Mission San Buenaventura, Ventura.
What happens if a Native American left the mission without permission?
Baptized Indians who left without permission were hunted down as “runaways,” and often punished severely on recapture. Punishments like whippings were also handed out for various infractions, or randomly at the whims of bored and resentful soldiers.