Final answer:
Christopher Columbus's concerns when establishing a colony in Hispaniola included securing wealth, particularly gold, for Spain, as well as ensuring the safety and provisioning of his settlements. He also had broader goals of converting the natives and making use of their labor, which led to severe exploitation and population decline among the indigenous people.
Step-by-step explanation:
Christopher Columbus had various concerns when he sought to establish a colony in Hispaniola. Initially, arriving in 1492 and believing he had reached Asia, his immediate attention was on securing enough gold and valuables to impress his royal sponsors, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. His reports idealized the region, describing Hispaniola as a miracle in terms of its fertility, beauty, and wealth in gold, which he hoped would secure further voyages.
However, there were also underlying concerns regarding the settlement's safety and resources, as highlighted by the burning down of Fort Navidad and its uncertain fate upon Columbus's return after his first voyage. Moreover, the Spanish aimed to convert the natives to Christianity and leverage their labor. The exploitation and harsh treatment of the indigenous people, which resulted in a drastic population decline and suffering, was a significant aspect of the Spanish colonization, though it might not have been a concern for Columbus at the onset; still, this aspect became a point of contention and moral questioning in history.