Evident traces of Spanish colonization are still visible today in the Americas, the Philippines, and other parts of the world in areas such as architecture, language, religion, and social inequality
. Examples of these traces are:
- Architecture Spanish colonial architecture is still seen in the architecture and city planning of many cities today
. Cities like Cartagena, Colombia, and Santa Ana de Coro, Venezuela, are UNESCO World Heritage Sites that preserve some of the best Spanish colonial architecture in the Caribbean
. Similarly, the historic center of Quito, Ecuador, is known to be the best- preserved area of Spanish colonial architecture in the Southern Hemisphere
- Language The Spanish language is spoken in many countries that were former Spanish colonies
- Religion The Catholic Church became an extensive element of spiritual authority and the dominant religion across the colonies
- Governance The Spanish monarchy created administrative divisions of land that would later inform the borders of countries across the Americas
- Social Inequality Colonial strategies facilitated the funneling of national resources, reinforcing deep inequality across the Americas that is still prevalent today
