Spanish Conquest of the Philippines (1565-1898)
Miguel López de Legazpi established Manila in 1571 as a Spanish base. Augustinian friars led conversion efforts across the islands, teaching Catholicism to native populations. The 1593 Doctrina Christiana standardized religious instruction in local languages. Spanish authorities suppressed indigenous animist practices while building churches. The colonial system blended religious authority with political control, reshaping Filipino society for centuries.
