Final answer:
Cortés's desire to conquer the Aztecs was driven by the thirst for wealth, the ambition to spread Christianity, and the strategic exploitation of political dissent within the empire.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hernán Cortés's ambition to conquer the Aztecs was driven by multiple motives. Firstly, Cortés wanted to enrich himself and Spain with the Aztec wealth, particularly in gold, as evidenced by the Spanish explorers' dazzlement with the riches of Tenochtitlán. Secondly, Cortés saw an opportunity to spread Christianity as the true religion, replacing what he perceived as the pagan rituals of the Aztecs, including human sacrifices. Furthermore, by presenting the Spanish King as the natural lord and purifying Aztec temples with Christian symbols—accompanied by a surprising compliance from the natives—it became evident that religious conversion was a key aspect of his agenda. Lastly, the pre-existing resentment among subjugated peoples and political entities toward the Aztec Empire provided Cortés a strategic advantage to form alliances and to exploit the weaknesses within the empire. The combination of these factors led to the eventual downfall of the Aztec Empire and the rise of the Spanish-centered order in the New World.