Which of the following describes the primary motivation of the Spanish conquest of the Aztec empire?

(A) A desire to convert native populations to European cultural practices (B) A desire to establish trade networks in South America (C) A desire to establish permanent agricultural lands (D) A desire to acquire gold and spicesExplanation: It is true that the Spanish tried to convert the Aztecs to Christianity, (A), and established farms in the New World, (C). However, the primary motivation for the Spanish conquest was to obtain gold, spices, and other valuable goods, making (D) the best answer. The Aztecs lived in Central, not South America, so (B) is also incorrect.