What significant cultural shift occurred with Spain's invasion of Mexico?

The significant cultural shift that occurred with Spain's invasion of Mexico was the introduction of Catholicism and a rigid social class system. This transformation emerged from the Spanish conquest, which aimed not only to conquer territory but also to spread Christianity. The missionaries, primarily Jesuits, Franciscans, and Dominicans, arrived and established missions, converting a large number of indigenous people to Catholicism, which fundamentally altered the spiritual landscape of the region.

In addition to religious changes, the Spanish established a social structure that favored Spaniards and marginalized indigenous peoples. The rigid class system placed Peninsulares (those born in Spain) at the top, followed by Creoles (those of Spanish descent born in Mexico), mestizos (those of mixed European and indigenous ancestry), and indigenous populations at the bottom. This system reinforced inequalities and dictated social, political, and economic power dynamics, shaping Mexican society for centuries to come.

Thus, the combination of introducing Catholicism alongside a hierarchical social framework constitutes the significant cultural shift that occurred during this period.