How did the Spanish conquest affect Mesoamerican cultures?

The Spanish conquest significantly altered Mesoamerican cultures primarily through the introduction of European customs and diseases. When the Spanish arrived in the 16th century, they brought with them various elements of European culture, including language, religion, art, and agricultural practices, which began to blend with existing Mesoamerican traditions. This cultural exchange often led to the emergence of hybrid practices.

More critically, the introduction of diseases such as smallpox, influenza, and measles had devastating effects on Mesoamerican populations, who had little to no immunity to these foreign illnesses. The demographic collapse due to these diseases contributed to the wane of indigenous societies, making them more vulnerable to Spanish conquest and control.

The impact of these changes was profound, as they not only disrupted existing societal structures but also facilitated the Spanish colonization of vast regions of Mesoamerica. The transformations that resulted from this period defined the social, political, and cultural landscapes of the region for centuries to follow.