AD 1521-1800 Colonial

When the Spanish arrived in the Americas in the late 15th century AD they encountered millions of people living in sophisticated societies. The Spanish and other Europeans showed little interest in native culture or history as their main focus was the search for wealth and land, using native populations as labour, and native conversion to Christianity. War, slavery, horrendous working conditions and most of all, European diseases soon devastated the indigenous population and destroyed much of their culture.

The Taíno culture in the West Indies was almost completely wiped out. The Aztec empire fell in 1521 and the Spanish immediately set out to conquer nations in Mexico and beyond. Many of these people fiercely fought back and some held out for centuries. Other native peoples retreated to more remote regions, or adapted when needed while keeping much of their own culture and beliefs.

As indigenous populations decreased, people of many African nations were taken by force as slaves to work the new plantations. Throughout this tragic era, people of African descent managed to keep much of their cultural heritage which eventually grew into the vibrant West Indian society of today.In the Spanish colonies a new mestizo class emerged through the intermarrying of European and indigenous people and the mixing of their cultures.