Spanish Colonial

The Spanish Colonial period refers to the time when Spain established its empire in the Americas, primarily in the 16th to 19th centuries. During this era, Spanish culture, religion, language, and governance heavily influenced local societies. Spanish explorers and settlers built cities, churches, and government institutions, often integrating indigenous populations into their empire. This period shaped many aspects of Latin American culture and geography, leaving a legacy of architecture, traditions, and social structures that persist today. It was a complex era marked by conquest, cultural exchange, and the formation of new identities rooted in Spanish dominance.