Final answer:
The Spanish started looking for new lands for a sea route to Asia. Colonies were established for economic purposes. Extracting wealth and converting people were connected.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Spanish started looking for new lands for a variety of reasons, but the first reason was to find a sea route to Asia in order to access valuable spices and goods.
Colonies existed mainly for economic purposes. They were established to extract resources and wealth from the new lands and send them back to the mother country.
Religious persecution is the mistreatment, discrimination, or harassment of individuals or groups based on their religious beliefs or affiliation.
Extracting wealth and converting people were connected because in many cases, the Spanish focused on exploiting the resources and riches of the lands they conquered, while also striving to convert the indigenous population to Christianity.
Learn more about Spanish exploration and colonization