Question

God, glory, and gold motivated the explorers of the New World. How is this made evident in the writings of Columbus, Cortes, and de las Casas?

(A) Through their emphasis on cultural exchange
(B) Through their focus on economic gain and spreading Christianity
(C) Through their indifference to the native cultures
(D) Through their rejection of gold as a motivation

Answer 1

The writings of Columbus, Cortes, and de las Casas demonstrate the motives of God, glory, and gold through their focus on economic gain and spreading Christianity.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the writings of Columbus, Cortes, and de las Casas, the motives of God, glory, and gold are made evident through their focus on economic gain and spreading Christianity. Columbus, in his descriptions of his discoveries, emphasized the amount of gold the new continent contained. Cortes hoped to gain hereditary privilege, tribute payments, and labor from natives, as well as the wealth in gold possessed by the Aztecs. De las Casas wrote about the destruction of indigenous populations and the economic exchange of gold and resources.