Final answer:
Europeans went to South America in the 1500s and 1600s in search of wealth and the legendary city of El Dorado, but they did not succeed in finding it.
Step-by-step explanation:
Europeans went to South America in the 1500s and 1600s for several reasons. One of the main reasons was their desire to find wealth and riches. They had heard stories of a legendary city called El Dorado, which was said to be made of gold. Explorers like Sir Walter Raleigh and Francisco de Orellana searched the Amazon River and the surrounding areas in hopes of finding this wealthy city. However, they never succeeded in finding El Dorado.
Learn more about reasons for European exploration in South America