1. Greed for Gold and Silver:
The Spanish were driven by a desire for wealth, and rumors of the Inca's vast riches, especially gold and silver, were a major motivator. They believed the Inca held immense stores of these precious metals, and their ambition was fueled by the possibility of seizing it.
2. Religious Zeal:
The Spanish were deeply religious and saw their conquest as a mission to convert the native populations to Christianity. They believed that the Inca religion was pagan and heretical, and they were determined to replace it with Catholicism.
3. Imperial Ambition:
The Spanish Empire was expanding its power and influence throughout the world, and the Incas presented a tempting target. Conquering the Inca Empire would give Spain control over a vast and wealthy territory, expanding its global dominance.
4. Political Instability in the Inca Empire:
At the time of the Spanish arrival, the Inca Empire was in a state of political turmoil. The reigning emperor, Huayna Capac, had died, and his two sons, Huáscar and Atahualpa, were engaged in a bitter civil war. This weakened the Inca Empire and made it more vulnerable to Spanish attack.
5. Technological Advantages:
The Spanish had several technological advantages that gave them a significant edge over the Inca, including firearms, armor, and horses. They also benefited from their knowledge of gunpowder and European warfare tactics.
6. Disease:
The Spanish unwittingly brought with them diseases like smallpox and measles to which the Incas had no immunity. These diseases ravaged the Inca population, weakening their resistance to the Spanish invasion.
It's important to note that the Spanish conquest was not a monolithic event. Different individuals within the Spanish expedition had different motivations, and some may have been driven more by greed, while others were motivated by religious zeal or a thirst for adventure.
The conquest was a complex and brutal process, with devastating consequences for the Inca people. The Inca Empire was destroyed, its culture and traditions were disrupted, and millions of native people were killed or enslaved.