- Latin American architecture - Seventeenth- and 18th-century architecture in Ecuador , Colombia , and Cuba
- Roman Catholicism - Colonial period
- Roman Catholicism: Top Questions
- Latin American architecture - The new urban strategy: Checkerboard plans and the Laws of the Indies
- history of Latin America - Religious trends
- Latin American architecture - Architecture of the new independent republics, c. 1810–70
Why were so many churches built in Latin America between 1650 and 1800?
The construction of numerous churches in Latin America between 1650 and 1800 was driven primarily by the central role of the Roman Catholic Church in the Spanish and Portuguese colonial empires. During this period, the Church served as a primary institution for establishing and maintaining colonial authority, with European powers viewing the conversion of Indigenous populations as a fundamental royal duty.12
The prevalence of these structures was also tied to the urban planning strategies of the era. Under the Laws of the Indies, new cities were organized around a central grid featuring a cathedral or major church as a focal point of the community. Beyond their religious function, these buildings acted as symbols of European presence and cultural influence.3
Architecturally, this era was defined by the adoption of Baroque architecture, which allowed for the elaborate ornamentation and decorative exuberance seen in sites like the Chapel of Rosario in Tunja or the Church of La Compañía in Quito. These projects often spanned decades, reflecting a sustained commitment to ecclesiastical building as a means of shaping the social and physical landscape of the New World.4