During the global age of exploration, the Jesuits played a significant role in cultural exchanges and the spread of Christianity. Formed in the 16th century, the Society of Jesus established missions in various parts of the world, including Asia, the Americas, and Africa. Jesuit missionaries engaged in education, science, and diplomacy and often adopted local customs to attract converts to Catholicism. They contributed to both theological and ethnographic knowledge, often documenting their experiences and the cultures they encountered. Their efforts aimed to evangelize and counteract the spread of Protestantism, embedding Jesuit expertise in global affairs throughout the era of exploration.