The Aftermath of the Spanish Conquest

Native American populations in Mexico and Peru declined sharply after the Spanish conquest because of the exploitative policies of the conquerors and the ravages of smallpox and other European diseases against which the indigenous people had no immunity.  This demographic collapse meant that the population of the Americas declined by as much as 90 percent in the century after contact with Europe.  European missionaries suppressed local beliefs and practices and worked to spread Christianity throughout the Americas.  Although increasing numbers of Europeans began to settle and dominate the land, the production of art did not end with the Spanish conquest.  Traditional media including fine weaving, continue to flourish to this day, transforming and remaining vital as indigenous peoples adjust to a changing world.^[1]