Spanish is spoken throughout Central and South America primarily due to the history of colonization by Spain. During the 15th and 16th centuries, Spain embarked on a period of exploration and conquest, known as the Age of Discovery. Spanish explorers, such as Christopher Columbus and Hernán Cortés, played significant roles in establishing Spanish colonies in the Americas.
As Spain colonized these regions, they imposed their language, culture, and religion on the indigenous populations. The Spanish language became the dominant language in government, education, and daily life. Over time, Spanish spread and became the primary language in most of Central and South America, with the exception of Brazil, where Portuguese is spoken due to Portuguese colonization.
Today, Spanish remains the official language in most countries in Central and South America, and it continues to be a unifying language across these diverse regions.