Compare New France with New Spain

New France and New Spain were both part of the great European venture of the 16th and 17th centuries known as the 'Age of Exploration'. The two new colonies had distinct differences, however, that shaped their futures. New France was largely concentrated in what is today known as Canada, while New Spain centered around present-day Mexico, the Caribbean, and much of the American southwest. New France was established by the French and as such was a predominantly Catholic country with a French-influenced culture and language. New Spain, on the other hand, was established by the Spanish and was heavily Latin American in culture, with a strong Latin American-Catholic tradition. In terms of their roles in the New World, New France was largely focused on fur trading and the exploitation of the land and its resources. This is in stark contrast to New Spain which was focused largely on developing a strong mercantile system, conquering lands, and establishing settlements. Both New France and New Spain were greatly influenced by the developments occurring in Europe at the time and each contributed in unique ways to the history of the Americas.