Spanish do not conquer the Aztecs: Effects on religion in Europe

In OTL, the conquest of Mexico and Peru brought the Spanish crown huge amounts of resources, which they mainly used rolling back the new heresy of Protestantism in Northern Europe, and the infidel Turkish invasion in the Southeast.

What if Columbus or Cortes fail? Without these funds, how far do reformed Christianity and Islam get in Europe?
 
With lesser spanish expension in Americas, it's likely they would focus on Africa and critically for Sudanese gold (that was one of their main objectives) as well Indian trade.

It would be followed by a stronger european presence in Africa as well eastern trade, so while the afflux of gold and wealth wouldn't be as important than peruvian gold (the mexican gold being quikcly run out), it would be enough to make the Spanish crown one of the most importants.

Furthermore, with a surviving Aztec Empire, you'll have most likely the creation of trade links : as Spain had already settled Caribbeans they are the most likely to benefit from it.

Finally, thanks to Netherlands, Spain already have many wealth : Antwerp's harbour had benefits equivalent to Potosi mines.
 
One could argue the Columbian invasion made the Spanish economy worse. Sure, they had more specie due to all the silver and gold, but it led to rampant inflation.
 
One could argue the Columbian invasion made the Spanish economy worse. Sure, they had more specie due to all the silver and gold, but it led to rampant inflation.

Perhaps, but that's the economy overall rather than the monarchy's share of it. That means less money on military adventures.
 
With lesser spanish expension in Americas, it's likely they would focus on Africa and critically for Sudanese gold (that was one of their main objectives) as well Indian trade.

I'm speaking from ignorance here, but my instinct is that the amount of Sudanese gold paled in comparison to that of the American mines.

It would be followed by a stronger european presence in Africa as well eastern trade, so while the afflux of gold and wealth wouldn't be as important than peruvian gold (the mexican gold being quikcly run out), it would be enough to make the Spanish crown one of the most importants.

Furthermore, with a surviving Aztec Empire, you'll have most likely the creation of trade links : as Spain had already settled Caribbeans they are the most likely to benefit from it.

Finally, thanks to Netherlands, Spain already have many wealth : Antwerp's harbour had benefits equivalent to Potosi mines.

These are all great points, but it still seems to me that even if all of this makes up for 75% of what they got in OTL, that 25% will still be critical in these wars.
 
One could argue the Columbian invasion made the Spanish economy worse. Sure, they had more specie due to all the silver and gold, but it led to rampant inflation.

Actually, it was proven recently that the spanish mint used no american gold up to XVII century.

The gold sent to Europe was directly given to Italians bankers for paying debts. The economic crisis was more due to a constant endemptement of Spain, used to have a regular convoy of gold, than monetary inflation itself.
 
I'm speaking from ignorance here, but my instinct is that the amount of Sudanese gold paled in comparison to that of the American mines.

Around 3.5 ton per year of gold production.

In comparison, american mines in the whole XVI managed to carry 330 tons of gold, making the production roughly comparable (around 4.5 tons).

The biggest issue is while the american gold is relativly concentrated, the sudanese gold was widespread in western Africa, therefore having the same spanish ovetaing on it is far less easy.
 
Around 3.5 ton per year of gold production.

In comparison, american mines in the whole XVI managed to carry 330 tons of gold, making the production roughly comparable (around 4.5 tons).

The biggest issue is while the american gold is relativly concentrated, the sudanese gold was widespread in western Africa, therefore having the same spanish ovetaing on it is far less easy.

Fascinating. What happened to the Sudanese gold in OTL? Would the Spanish have been able to monopolise it?
 
Fascinating. What happened to the Sudanese gold in OTL?
As the technological advances managed to exploit more importantly the american mines (at a point where 80% of Gold came from some precise mines), it soon loose any great interest and the merchant companies that first tried to benefit from it reconverted themselves into slavery.

Would the Spanish have been able to monopolise it?
Monopolise the production? Not at first, but they would have been able to take over the trade roads.
 
Top