Religious fervor and greed were two driving  forces in colonisation. In every town, native Indians newly converted to Catholicism were forced to construct churches many built from the rubble of  demolished pre-Hispanic temples, such as Templo Mayor in downtown Mexico City.

The conquerors were awarded parcels of land for their labors to the crown and thus began the era of large land  holdings. Silver lying below the ground in Taxco, Guanajuato and Zacatecas  attracted many Spaniards, who forced the native Indians to mine the riches.

Over the next 300 years Spain sent 61 viceroys to govern New Spain. Many beautiful buildings were constructed, which  are still in use today. Spanish speech, dress and customs replaced indigenous  cultures in the cities, but always with adaptations to the climate and the  unique way of life in this vast new country.