1. Spanish conquistadors were motivated by a combination of factors, including the desire for wealth (gold, silver, and other resources), religious zeal to convert indigenous populations to Christianity, and the ambition to expand the Spanish empire. This multi-faceted motivation drove their exploration and conquest, leading to the exploitation of resources and the subjugation of indigenous peoples.
2. The Spanish conquest had a profound and lasting impact on the Americas, leading to the destruction of indigenous cultures, the introduction of European diseases (like smallpox) that decimated populations, and the establishment of a colonial system based on forced labor and the exploitation of resources. This impact continues to shape the social, cultural, and political landscape of Latin America today.