Final answer:
The colonization of South America and Mexico by the Spanish led to widespread disease, cultural disruption, and changes in governance among the native populations. While the Spanish included natives within their colonial project and mestizo populations emerged, the natives still experienced cultural challenges and had to adapt or resist the enforced changes.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the Spanish began to colonize South America and Mexico, the native populations experienced a drastic change in their ways of life. The Spanish conquest led to a significant loss of life among indigenous peoples, largely due to the introduction of diseases like smallpox to which the natives had no immunity. Additionally, there was a systematic disruption of native cultures. The Spanish imposed new governance, religion, and economic systems, even while claiming land and demanding tribute.
The Spanish did not always seek to physically eliminate the indigenous populations; instead, they often included them in their colonial project, which resulted in a mixed legacy of protection under Spanish rule, the rise of mestizo descendants, and the preservation of native languages and cultures in Latin America. Despite this, the natives faced what could be described as a form of cultural genocide, as they were forced to abandon their own religious traditions and customs. However, native cultures and languages have shown resilience and continue to thrive in many parts of Central and South America.