Final answer:
Christopher Columbus's voyage, sponsored by the Spanish Crown, had multifaceted goals including religious conversion, financial gain, and territorial expansion, as evidenced by the presence of priests and bankers among his crew.
Step-by-step explanation:
The presence of priests and bankers on Christopher Columbus's voyage indicates his goals were not just exploratory but also focused on religious conversion, securing financial support, and colonization and expansion.
The Spanish Crown, driven by motivations to spread Catholicism and gain a competitive edge in trade, sponsored Columbus's journey. Queen Isabella had a strong religious zeal to propagate the Christian faith, while King Ferdinand was interested in the potential of new wealth and establishing trade routes that would give Spain an advantage over Portugal. Columbus himself was motivated by God, glory, and gold.
This meant that acts such as sailing across unknown waters were part religious mission, part daring adventure for personal honor, and part strategic movement towards wealth accumulation through trade expansion and colonization.