Opulent architecture can be a sign of cultural assimilation when a dominant culture or society imposes its architectural style or values on a subjugated culture. This can be seen in instances of colonialism, where European colonizers forced their architectural styles on the colonized peoples. The imposing architecture often became a symbol of the colonizer's power and wealth, making it more attractive as a marker of status than the vernacular architecture of the colonized people. As time went on, the colonized people may have adopted the architectural style of the colonizers as a way of assimilating into the dominant culture. This assimilation could be voluntary or forced and may involve the suppression or abandonment of native architectural styles. Thus, opulent architecture can reflect the process of cultural assimilation and the way that dominant cultures have imposed their values and aesthetics on subjugated or minority cultures.
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