Final answer:
Spain reinforced Catholicism by consolidating Catholic power through the Reconquista, expulsions, and the Inquisition, sending missionaries to the New World, and addressing political challenges between Spain and Portugal with the Treaty of Tordesillas. Artistic patronage and military efforts against Protestant European powers were also integral to Spain's strategy to strengthen Catholicism.
Step-by-step explanation:
Strategies to Strengthen Catholicism in Europe
In response to the challenges presented by the Protestant Reformation, Spain, as the foremost Catholic power in Europe, took several significant steps to reinforce Catholicism both within its borders and across its territories. The Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, played a key role in this process. Following their marriage in 1492 and the subsequent unification of Spain, they endeavored to consolidate Catholic power through measures such as the Reconquista, the expulsion of Jews and Muslims, and the establishment of the Inquisition.
Under their reign, Spanish colonization efforts in the New World also included a religious component. Missionaries and secular clergy were sent to convert native populations to Christianity. Notable figures like Dominican friar Bartolome de las Casas played important roles in the spread of Catholicism and the education and protection of native peoples.
Additionally, the political landscape of Europe influenced Spain’s religious actions. To prevent conflicts between Spain and Portugal, the Pope issued the Treaty of Tordesillas, which not only delineated spheres of influence for these two nations but also had a lasting impact on the linguistic and cultural evolution of their colonies. As a result, countries such as Brazil, which fell under Portuguese influence, differ linguistically and culturally from their Spanish-speaking neighbors.
The Habsburg dynasty, which ruled Spain during much of the 16th century, also struggled against Protestantism in Europe. Spain engaged in military conflicts, including the famed Spanish Armada against England, in an attempt to reassert Catholic dominance. The patronage of sacred art and the adornment of Catholic churches were another means by which Spain and its rulers promoted their faith. Spain spent large amounts of treasure and employed artists like Peter Paul Rubens to create works that celebrated Catholicism and its tenets.