Spanish missions

Spanish missions were religious and cultural outposts established by Spanish colonizers, particularly from the 16th to the 19th centuries, across the Americas, especially in present-day California, Texas, and the Southwest. Their primary aim was to convert Indigenous peoples to Christianity, particularly Catholicism, and to support Spanish claims to territory. Missions served as centers for agriculture, education, and trade, fostering cultural exchanges but also leading to significant changes in Indigenous lifestyles. The legacy of these missions is complex, as they contributed to the spread of European culture while often disrupting existing Indigenous societies.