San Antonio Mission

Spanish Missions - Part 4

Economy and Life on a Mission

Multiple Choice

Which one best represents ECONOMIC?

• People

• Money

• Government

Spanish Colonial - Mission Economy

Each mission had a ranch for raising the sheep, goats, and cattle that supplied necessities like meat, wool, milk, cheese, and leather. The entire cattle industry was  developed in Mexico. This included ranching.

The Spanish also brought to the San  Antonio valley a specialized method of farming that used irrigation. Irrigation is the process of applying controlled amounts of water to plants. Parts of mission-built irrigation systems  are still in use today in San Antonio and other parts of Texas. 

Multiple Choice

What type of agricultural (farming) system did the Spanish bring to the San Antonio valley?

• Cattle ranching and irrigation

• blacksmith, weaving, and iron work

Mission Economy

The mission contributed to the economy in other ways. It established necessary industries such as weaving, iron working, and carpentry.

Open Ended

What type of economic industries were established in the missions?

Multiple Choice

Which 3G did the Spanish use to colonize Texas?

• Gold

• God

• Glory

Life on the Mission

Religion was the most important factor in shaping the day. At dawn the church bells rang, calling the people to Morning Prayer, which was followed by religious instruction.

At noontime the bells rang again to assemble everyone for more prayer, and in the evening there was another service and more instruction. 

Multiple Choice

What was the most important factor of the missions?

• Religion

• Food

• Work

Life on a Mission

Many of the men  were led to the fields or to military drills  by a missionary or a soldier, while others  remained in the mission to work in one of  the shops weaving, candle making,  woodworking, or other crafts. 

Women and older girls often made pottery or baskets, though others prepared food or caught fish in the nearby river.  Children spent their days in a number of ways: helping the adults, gathering  under a tree for Spanish lessons, or playing games with each other.  

Open Ended

How would someone of your age spend a typical day at a San Antonio mission?