Effects of the Spanish conquest

There was a drastic decrease in the indigenous population of the Americas due to diseases introduced by the Spanish, such as smallpox, measles and typhus, resulting in demographic collapse.
It’s estimated that up to 90% of the indigenous population died due to these diseases as they had no natural immunity.
Enforced labour in harsh conditions, and brutal treatment during the conquest period, also contributed to the population decline.

The discovery and exploitation of abundant natural resources, particularly silver and gold, transformed the Spanish economy and made Spain one of the wealthiest European nations.
The Encomienda system was introduced, a type of feudalism where natives were forced to work in mines or fields by Spanish landowners.
The Spanish introduced new crops such as citrus fruits, sugar cane, and wheat, which transformed agriculture and land use in the Americas.

The Spanish imposed their language, religion, and customs on the native people, leading to cultural erasure and adoption of Spanish culture.
Christian missionaries converted many indigenous people to Catholicism, leading to a significant shift in religious practices.
Education and literacy, primarily offered through the Church, was introduced, dramatically altering indigenous cultures and societies.

Spanish arrivals led to the built environment being dramatically changed, with city planning and architecture reflecting European styles.
The discovery of the Pacific Ocean by Balboa and the first circumnavigation of the globe by Magellan’s crew expanded the Spanish Empire and European knowledge of the world.
New Spanish settlements, forts and cities took the space of former indigenous settlements.

The Spanish conquests laid the groundwork for the Atlantic Slave Trade, as the diminished indigenous population led settlers to look to Africa for labour forces.
Boundaries drawn and territories claimed during the Spanish conquest still influence Latin American geopolitics today.
The conquest also established lasting imperial patterns of economic exploitation and cultural dominance across the world.