The
Spanish missions in California comprise a series of 21
religious outposts; established by
Catholic priests of the
Franciscan order between 1769 and 1833, to
expand Christianity among the
Native Americans northwards into what is today the U.S. state of
California. The missions were part of a major effort by the
Spanish Empire to extend colonization into the most northern and western parts of Spain's North American claims. The missionaries introduced European fruits, vegetables, cattle, horses, ranching and technology into the region that became the
New Spain province of
Alta California; however, the missions also brought serious negative consequences to the Native American populations with whom the missionaries and other Spaniards came in contact.