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The Spanish conquistadors wanted to conquer and colonize the lands of the Americas, as well as extract gold, silver, and other valuable resources.

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The Spanish conquistadors, led by explorers such as Christopher Columbus and Hernan Cortes, had several goals in mind when they set out to conquer the lands of the Americas.

First and foremost, the conquistadors wanted to spread Christianity and convert the native peoples to Catholicism. This was in line with the Spanish monarchs’ desire to expand their empire and spread their religion.

In addition to religious motivations, the Spanish also sought to extract wealth and resources from the lands they conquered. Gold and silver were in high demand in Europe at the time, and the conquistadors believed that the Americas held vast amounts of these precious metals. As noted by historian Matthew Restall, “The gold and silver from the Americas transformed Spain into a wealthy, powerful empire.”

However, the Spanish also wanted other valuable resources from the Americas, including tobacco, chocolate, and tomatoes. These items became popular in Europe and were highly sought after as commodities.

One of the most infamous examples of Spanish conquest is Cortes’ conquest of the Aztec Empire. In addition to taking over the empire and seizing its wealth, Cortes and his men also spread disease and destroyed much of the region’s natural resources.

As noted by historian Howard Zinn, “The conquistadors were after riches, plunder, dominance, and an ever larger empire – the same impulses that would rule the great powers of Europe throughout the age of imperialism.”

Interesting facts about Spanish conquistadors and their motivations:

• The Spanish weren’t the only ones seeking wealth in the Americas. Other European powers such as the Portuguese, French, and English also colonized the region.
• The Spanish also brought diseases such as smallpox and measles to the Americas, which devastated native populations.
• The Aztec Empire was already weakened by a smallpox epidemic before Cortes arrived, making it easier for the Spanish to take control.
• Many conquistadors were motivated by a desire for glory and adventure, in addition to wealth and power.
• The term “conquistador” means “conqueror” in Spanish.

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The Spanish Conquistadors were not only Spanish but also included men from other nations, and they were driven by the pursuit of gold. They were responsible for the deaths of countless natives, with examples such as the Cholula and Temple massacres cited. Rival factions in the Americas also assisted the Conquistadors, while Malinali acted as a crucial interpreter and aide. The Conquistadors’ conquests were fueled by the search for riches, which primarily ended up in the King of Spain’s possession. Four aspects of their conquest, including wealth distribution, religious attempts, battles between different conquistador groups, and slavery, are discussed, with the extinction of the Nahuatl language highlighted as a significant result of the Spanish’s takeover.

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Their goal was to claim land and resources for their investors and conquer natives of other lands for treasure and glory. They also were vital in the spread and enforcement of religion.

Conquistadors were Spanish "conquerors" who sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to claim wealth and territory for Spain and themselves. They were motivated by God, glory, and gold. The thirst for gold to pay for armies and gain personal enrichment resulted in waves of expeditions of discovery and conquest from 1492 onwards. Contrary to popular belief, the conquistadors were not trained warriors, but mostly artisans seeking an opportunity to advance their wealth and fame.

Soon after Christopher Columbus arrived in the Americas in 1492, the Spanish began to hear stories of civilizations with immense riches. Hoping to claim this wealth and territory for Spain and themselves, conquistadors, or “conquerors,” sailed across the Atlantic Ocean.

What motivated the Spanish Conquistadors is often neatly broken down into three basic factors: God, glory and gold. While it is hard to fault this concept it is nonetheless a hugely simplistic point of view.

The staggering quantity of gold the conquistadors extracted from the Americas allowed Spain to become the richest country in the world. The thirst for gold to pay for armies and gain personal enrichment resulted in waves of expeditions of discovery and conquest from 1492 onwards.

Contrary to popular belief, the conquistadors were not trained warriors, but mostly artisans seeking an opportunity to advance their wealth and fame.

They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. conquistador, (Spanish: “conqueror”) plural conquistadores or conquistadors, any of the leaders in the Spanish conquest of America, especially of Mexico and Peru, in the 16th century.

Spanish explorers with hopes of conquest in the New World were known as conquistadores. Hernán Cortés arrived on Hispaniola in 1504 and participated in the conquest of the Island. Cortés then led the exploration of the Yucatán Peninsula in hopes of attaining glory. In 1519, Cortés entered Tenochtitlán, the capital of the Aztec/Mexica Empire.

Spanish conquistadors had better success in South America, where they conquered the Aztec and Inca Empires and claimed the land for Spain. Spain soon grew rich from ample deposits of gold and silver in Mexico, Central America, and South America. In addition to the quest for gold, however, Spain sought to spread Christianity.

The Spanish conquistadors had many military advantages over the New World natives. The Spanish had steel weapons and armor, which made them nearly unstoppable, as native weapons could not pierce Spanish armor nor could native armor defend against steel swords.

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