Final answer:
Spain explored and established colonies in the Caribbean, Mesoamerica, South America, and the Philippines, impacting social, economic, and demographic aspects of these regions. Key activities included conquests, the establishment of a social hierarchy, and economic exploitation, especially in mining precious metals.
Step-by-step explanation:
Spanish Colonial Expansion
During the 15th and 16th centuries, Spain created colonies and explored various territories across the world. In the New World, Spanish explorers established settlements in the Caribbean islands, Mesoamerica - including areas that encompass modern-day Mexico and Central America, and South America, where they encountered the Aztec and Inca empires. The Spanish colonization involved significant changes to the local economy, social structure, and demographics, largely due to the introduction of European diseases such as smallpox and the conquest of local empires. Conquistadors like Hernán Cortés and Francisco Pizarro were instrumental in the defeat of the Aztecs and the Incas, respectively. Spain's colonial empire did not stop at the Americas, as it also reached the Philippines in the Far East.
Within the colonies, Spain implemented a rigid control system over economic activities, particularly in the extraction and export of precious resources like silver and gold. The patriarchy and social hierarchy placed Spaniards at the top, above Native Americans and Africans. Despite this social structure, resistance and contestation of Spanish dominance were persistent from both the African and native populations.
Overall, the Spanish colonization brought radical changes to the world, influencing trade, culture, and geopolitical structures for centuries to come.