Spanish Exploration of the Western Hemisphere

Spanish explorers, sponsored by European countries, were driven by trade, wealth, and religion to explore the Western Hemisphere. Columbus's 1492 voyage aimed to find new trade routes to Asia but led to the discovery of the Americas. The allure of gold, including myths like El Dorado, motivated further exploration. Religion played a significant role, with missionaries seeking to spread Christianity and others escaping persecution. European nations competed for power and resources through colonization, shaping the Americas' history.

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