Primary Motivation Behind Spanish Colonization

During the early period of Spanish colonization in the Americas, various motivations spurred Spanish explorers and conquistadors to venture into and establish territories in the New World. These motivations ranged from the pursuit of wealth to the desire for religious conversion of Indigenous populations. As these explorers laid the foundations for Spanish settlements, their interactions with Native Americans varied greatly depending on local circumstances.

Which of the following was a primary motivation behind the Spanish colonization efforts in the New World during the late 15th and early 16th centuries?