The conquest of Mexico and Peru: Impact

Cultural Impact

Catholic Christianity was imposed on the indigenous populations of Mexico and Peru by Spanish conquerors.
Prominent ancient buildings and monuments, particularly religious structures of the Aztec and Inca civilisations, were often demolished or repurposed for Christian missions.
Native languages were suppressed and Spanish was enforced, leading to a significant reduction in the use of indigenous languages.
The intermixing of cultures resulted in a new hybrid ‘Mestizo’ culture, blending Spanish and native customs, arts, and folklore.

The arrival of Europeans introduced new diseases, including smallpox, measles, and influenza, which devastated native populations as they had no immunity against them. This led to a dramatic decrease in indigenous populations.
The Spanish enforced a system of forced labour known as ‘encomienda’, where indigenous people were made to work in mines and plantations.
The casta system, a hierarchical system of race classification, was introduced by the Spanish, leading to a stratified society with Spanish-born whites at the top and native or African-descended slaves at the bottom.
The native populations were forcibly converted to Catholic Christianity, affecting their societal structure and traditions.

The conquest led to the abolishment of indigenous political structures such as the Aztec and Inca Empires, and their replacement with Spanish colonial administrations.
The centralization of power occurred, as the Spanish monarchy controlled the politics, economics, and social structure of the new world via their viceroyalties.
The so-called ‘discovery’ of the New World significantly enhanced Spain’s international prestige and influence.

The Spanish exploited the rich mineral resources of Mexico and Peru, notably silver, which greatly enriched the Spanish economy and shifted the balance of global economic power towards Europe.
New agricultural products such as potatoes, tomatoes, maize, bean varieties, and cocoa were brought to Europe, transforming the continent’s agricultural and culinary landscapes.
Due to the conquest, Spain established a global trade network, which included the Manila galleons between Mexico and Asia, fostering a global economic system for the first time in history.