How was fort Ross different from the missions?

Fort Ross, established in 1812 by the Russian-American Company, served primarily as a fur trading outpost and was focused on economic activities rather than religious missions. Unlike the Spanish missions, which aimed to convert Indigenous peoples to Christianity and integrate them into European-style agriculture, Fort Ross was more of a commercial enterprise that engaged in trade with both Indigenous groups and other settlers. Its structure and purpose reflected a blend of Russian and Indigenous cultures, differing significantly from the mission system's emphasis on religious conversion and agricultural development.