Final answer:
Missionary journeys primarily aimed at spreading Christianity and assimilating indigenous populations to European culture during colonization, with missionaries playing a key role in the 'civilizing mission' by establishing churches and schools.
Step-by-step explanation:
The primary purpose of missionary journeys was to spread religious beliefs and convert indigenous populations to Christianity. This objective was particularly evident during the colonization of the Americas, where the charter of the Massachusetts Bay Company stated its intent to "win and incite the natives of this country, to the knowledge and obedience of the only true God and Saviour of mankind."
This sentiment was echoed by explorers such as Christopher Columbus, who believed the Taino people to be amenable to conversion, and Hernan Cortes, who reported that the Aztecs were willing to be instructed in the Christian faith. Similarly, missionaries were key figures in the imperialistic "civilizing mission," establishing churches and schools to assimilate colonized people to the culture and language of European nations. Roman Catholic and Protestant missionaries aimed to bring the gifts of civilization to the colonies, taking in orphaned children and integrating them into the conquering nation's culture. Hence, the missionary endeavors were deeply connected with colonization, cultural assimilation, and the spreading of European religious and social norms.