What was daily life like on the San Juan bautista mission?

- Daily life at San Juan Bautista centered on religious observance and prayer.

- Missionaries used a combination of Catholic traditions and local customs to convert Native Americans to Christianity.

- Native Americans were required to attend Mass, learn Catholic prayers, and participate in religious rituals.

Economic Activities

- The mission's primary economic activity was agriculture.

- Native American laborers grew a variety of crops, including wheat, corn, beans, and vegetables, to support the mission community.

- The mission also had livestock, such as cattle, sheep, and pigs.

- Native Americans produced crafts and goods like baskets, pottery, and textiles, which they traded with other missions and Spanish settlers.

Education and Language

- The mission provided some education for Native American children, mainly in religious instruction.

- Missionaries taught basic reading, writing, and arithmetic, and introduced the Spanish language to Native Americans.

- Native Americans were encouraged to adopt Spanish customs, dress, and language.

Social Structure and Gender Roles

- Mission society was highly structured, with the missionaries at the top, followed by Native American converts and then non-converted Native Americans.

- Native American men were expected to perform manual labor, such as farming, construction, and hunting, while women were primarily responsible for domestic tasks and raising children.

Health and Living Conditions

- Living conditions at the mission were often harsh, with limited access to food, shelter, and medical care.

- Missionaries imposed European diseases, such as smallpox, measles, and influenza, on Native American populations, reducing their numbers significantly.

Resistance and Adaptation

- Some Native Americans resisted the mission system and attempted to maintain their traditional ways of life.

- Over time, Native Americans incorporated various aspects of Spanish culture and religion into their own traditions, resulting in a blend of European and Native American customs.