<Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> The Spanish missions in the Americas were Catholic missions established by the Spanish Empire during the 16th to 19th centuries in an area extending from Mexico and southwestern portions of what today are the United States to as far south as Argentina and Chile . </P> <P> During the Age of Discovery; the Christian Church inaugurated a major effort to spread Christianity in the New World by converting indigenous peoples . As such, the establishment of Christian missions went hand - in - hand with the colonizing efforts of European powers such as Spain, France and Portugal . For these nations, "the colonial enterprise was based on the necessity to develop European commerce and the obligation to propagate the Christian faith ." According to Adriaan van Oss, "Catholicism remains the principal colonial heritage of Spain in America . More than any set of economic relationships...more even than the language...the Catholic religion continues to permeate Spanish - American culture today, creating an overriding cultural unity which transcends the political and national boundaries dividing the continent ." </P>

Where did the spanish establish most of their missions in the americas
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