Final answer:
Missionaries like Augustine of Canterbury and organizations such as the Jesuits were key in spreading Christianity and assimilating native populations into Western culture. They were involved in education, healthcare, and the cultural conversion of indigenous peoples, with ambiguous impacts that included both benefits and disruptions to local societies.
Step-by-step explanation:
Missionaries played a significant role in the spread of Christianity and Western influence throughout various parts of the world. The efforts of these individuals often aimed at converting others to their faith and integrating them into the culture of the colonizing nation. With the support of imperial powers and occasionally in partnership with local rulers, they established churches and schools, and worked to convert and assimilate peoples across Africa, Asia, and the Pacific.
Missionary societies, such as the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, were instrumental in these endeavors. Figures like Augustine of Canterbury and organizations like the Jesuits stand out for their work in converting populations and shaping cultural and religious landscapes. In many cases, Protestant and Catholic missionaries brought both religious teachings and Western cultural values to the indigenous populations, sometimes resulting in positive outcomes such as education and healthcare, but also often disrupting existing social practices and causing conflict.