Final answer:
Spanish colonization led to the widespread adoption of Roman Catholicism and the Spanish language in Central and South America. Indigenous languages and cultures were often suppressed, although they manage to persist in some areas. The colonization included the establishment of missions, forced cultural assimilation, and the introduction of a new social hierarchy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The long-term impact of Spanish colonization on the religion and language of Central and South America is profound. The Spanish introduced Roman Catholicism as the main religion, which remains dominant in the region. Alongside the spread of Catholicism, the Spanish language became the lingua franca across most of Central and South America, replacing many of the indigenous languages. However, in some areas, indigenous languages still thrive and are spoken by millions. Local cultures often blended European elements with traditional customs to create unique cultural expressions, despite efforts at cultural assimilation by the colonizers. The colonization process was marked by the exploitation of indigenous people, attempts at converting them to Christianity, and social hierarchies that favored the Spanish.
The Catholic Church was instrumental in this process, with clergy and missionaries establishing missions to convert and educate indigenous peoples. People like Bartolomé de las Casas became advocates for the rights of natives, acknowledging their sophisticated societies and pushing back against brutal treatments. Nonetheless, colonial policies led to significant transformations in societal structures, influenced by patriarchal and class-based systems introduced by the Spanish.
To ease conflicts over territory, the Catholic Pope divided the New World between Spain and Portugal, leading to the predominance of Portuguese in Brazil and Spanish in other parts of the region. This imposition of language and religion significantly altered the cultural landscape of Central and South America and still shapes the region's identity today.