Goals of Spanish Colonization

During the late 15th and early 16th centuries, Spain began to establish colonies in the Americas. The motivations behind this early colonization included the search for gold, the spread of Christianity, and the expansion of Spanish territory. One of the most notable figures in the Spanish colonization of the New World was Christopher Columbus, whose voyages led to the European awareness of the American continents. Which of the following best describes a primary goal of Spanish colonization during this early period?