Final answer:
The Spanish colonization began with Christopher Columbus in 1492, supported by the Spanish monarchy. The first permanent Spanish settlement was established in the Dominican Republic in 1493.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Spanish colonization began with the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492. The Spanish monarchy supported expeditions by explorers such as Columbus, who sought to find new trade routes to Asia and to spread Christianity. The first permanent Spanish settlement was established in 1493 in present-day Dominican Republic.
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