Spanish missions refer to religious outposts established by the Spanish colonizers in California during the 18th and early 19th centuries. These missions aimed to convert Native Americans to Christianity and were centers of agricultural and economic activity.
Related terms
Native American assimilation: The process through which Native Americans adopted aspects of European culture, including language, religion, and lifestyle.
Franciscans: Members of the Catholic religious order who played a significant role in establishing and managing the Spanish missions in California.
Ranchos: Large land grants given by the Spanish government to individuals for agricultural use. These ranchos often coexisted with or developed around the mission settlements.