Final answer:
The conquistadors were driven primarily by the desire for gold and economic gains. They sought to acquire wealth and resources from the lands they explored and conquered.
Step-by-step explanation:
The conquistadors were primarily driven by the desire for gold. They sought to acquire wealth and resources from the lands they explored and conquered. The lure of discovering new sources of precious metals like gold and silver motivated them to undertake dangerous and arduous journeys across the seas.
While religious duty played a role for some conquistadors, the main driving force was economic gains. They represented the Spanish crown and aimed to establish colonies and extract as much wealth as possible from the newly discovered territories.
There was no intention to distribute land to native peoples, nor was there a desire to grant them power and fame. The primary objective of the conquistadors was to enrich themselves and their country through the acquisition of wealth.
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