Content Warning: This section discusses anti-Indigenous racism.

The events described in Lieutenant Nun took place during the height of Spanish colonialism in the 17th century, a period marked by Spain’s expansion of its empire in the Americas. Following the voyages of Christopher Columbus in the late 15th century, Spain established vast colonial territories in the “New World,” encompassing much of South and Central America, the Caribbean, and parts of North America. These territories were governed by a strict hierarchy and driven by the Spanish crown’s desire for wealth, religious conversion, and territorial expansion.

The era was characterized by the exploitation of Indigenous populations, who were often subjected to forced labor under the encomienda system: The lands in the Americas were divided among Spanish settlers, who were entitled to tax the Indigenous populations as long as they attempted to convert them. The primary goal of the colonial mission was to extract resources—particularly silver and gold—which were sent back to Spain, thereby fueling the European economy. Additionally, the Catholic Church played a significant role in the colonies by focusing on the conversion of Indigenous peoples to Christianity. This missionary activity often operated at the expense of traditional Indigenous cultures and beliefs.