Mission Systems

Definition

Mission systems were religious institutions established by European powers, particularly Spain and France, in the Americas to convert native tribes to Christianity. These systems aimed to assimilate indigenous people into European culture while also exerting control over them.

Related terms

Encomienda System: This system granted Spanish settlers land and labor from indigenous people in exchange for protection and Christianization.

Jesuit Order: A Catholic religious order that played a significant role in establishing mission systems throughout the Americas.

Assimilation: The process by which individuals or groups adopt the customs, language, and culture of another group.