Cultural differences are implicit in the conceptual content

Cultural differences are implicit in the conceptual content of the languages of these two civilizations,and their value systems stem from a long series of historical circumstances.Therefore,it may be well to consider some of the English and Spanish cultural configurations before these Europeans set foot on American soil.English culture was basically insular,geo-graphically and ideologically; was more integrated on the whole,except for some strong theological differences; and was particularly zealous of its racial purity.Spanish culture was peninsular,a geographical circumstance that made it a catchall of Mediterranean,central European and North African peoples.The composite nature of the population produced a marked regionalism that prevented close integration,except for religion,and led to a strong sense of individualism.These differences were reflected in the colo-nizing enterprise of the two cultures.The English isolated themselves from the Indians physically and culturally; the Spanish,who had strong notions about pureza de sangre [purity of blood] among the nobility,were not collectively averse to adding one more strain to their racial cocktail.Cortez led the way by siring the first mestizo in North America,and the rest of the conquistadores followed suit.The ultimate products of these two orientations meet today in the Southwest.
Anglo-American culture was absolutist at the onset; that is,all the dominant values were considered identical for all