Final answer:
Spain's colonization of the Americas had causes of economic expansion, religious motives, and the search for wealth. The characteristics included dominance over indigenous populations, religious conversion efforts, and cultural assimilation. The consequences were wealth for Spain, decimation of native populations, and long-lasting impact on the Americas.
Step-by-step explanation:
Spain's causes for American colonization included economic expansion, religious motives, and the search for wealth. These factors were intertwined in the Spanish exploration and conquest of the Americas. Economic expansion drove the desire for new trade routes and resources, while religious motives led to efforts to spread Christianity. The search for wealth fueled the exploration and exploitation of the Americas for precious metals like gold and silver.
Spain's colonization of the Americas had several characteristics. The Spanish sought to establish dominance and control over the indigenous populations, often through military force and coerced labor systems like the encomienda system. They also imposed their language, culture, and religion on the native peoples, aiming to convert them to Catholicism and assimilate them into Spanish society.
The consequences of Spanish colonization were far-reaching. The Spanish Empire became incredibly wealthy due to the exploitation of the Americas' resources, especially gold and silver. However, the colonization also led to the decimation of native populations through disease, warfare, and forced labor. The Spanish brought devastating diseases such as smallpox to the Americas, which resulted in the death of millions of indigenous people. The establishment of Spanish colonies in the Americas also laid the foundation for centuries of cultural, political, and economic domination by European powers.