Until the arrival of the Spaniards conquistadors in 1526, the Maya civilization was a thriving nation. However, Mayan civilization changed forever after the arrival of the Franciscan monks. The religious aspect of the conquest of Mexico is important in the profound impact the Catholic religion had on the indigenoius people. One man in pacticular had a devastating effect on Mayan religious practices. In 1562, Friar Diego de Landa ordered the destruction of thousands of Mayan religious sculptures and manuscripts, along with the torture and murder of suspected Mayan non-Christians. One would think that because of the Spanish Conquest, the end of Mayan religion was imminent. However, despite the sufferings of the Mayan people, religious practices persisted, especially in rural villages. Religion was interwoven in culture, and personal history. In this way, the Mayans and their Spanish conquerors struggled for control of Mayan souls. Although Spanish priests converted the Maya to Roman Catholicism, there was a great deal of overlap between Maya and Christian belief systems. The systems were similar in many respects, and this union of customs and beliefs facilitated the merging of religions. The Mayans were converted to Roman Catholicism, but ancient practices were not forgotten. Some indigenous populations abandon their religion and accept the faith of the group that conquers them while other indigenous groups hold on to their own religions and religious practices for long periods of time.
             The factors of accepting Catholism depend on the political coercion and the persistence of the Spanish, the ability of the conquered Mayan people to resist by shielding themselves behind the strength of their own religious beliefs and practices and the absorption of new religion into the old religion.
             The Mayan civilization changed forever after the arrival of the Catholic missionaries. In 1562, the Mayan culture was dealt a severe blow when Fri...