Economic Goals:
* Gold and Silver: The Spanish were driven by a thirst for gold and silver. They sought to exploit the vast mineral wealth of the New World, using forced labor to extract resources like silver from mines in Mexico and Peru. This wealth fueled the Spanish economy and allowed them to project power in Europe.
* Trade Routes: Spain aimed to establish trade routes to Asia, bypassing the established Italian and Arab networks. They hoped to find a westward passage to the East Indies, but ultimately focused on establishing trade networks within the Americas.
* Agricultural Products: They sought to cultivate valuable crops like sugar, tobacco, and cotton for export back to Europe. This led to the development of large-scale plantations, often using forced labor, which profoundly shaped the economies of many Caribbean islands and parts of South America.
Religious Goals:
* Conversion of Indigenous Peoples: Spain sought to convert the native populations to Christianity. They sent missionaries and priests to establish missions throughout the Americas. This was seen as a moral imperative, as well as a way to solidify their control over the land and its people.
Political Goals:
* Establishing Colonies: Spain established colonies throughout the Americas, with the goal of expanding its empire and asserting its political dominance in the New World.
* Building a Powerful Empire: Through colonization, Spain sought to build a powerful empire that would rival the other European powers. This meant establishing institutions, military forces, and systems of governance that would ensure Spanish control over the vast territories they had claimed.
Overall, the Spanish goals in the New World were complex and intertwined. While the search for wealth played a significant role, they also sought to spread their religion and build a powerful empire. These aspirations ultimately had a profound and lasting impact on the Americas, shaping its political, social, and economic landscape for centuries to come.