What was Christopher Columbus's goal for Hispaniola?

• A. To settle and cultivate land
• B. To return home with vast amounts of gold
• C. To establish an indigenous alliance
• D. To convert natives to Christianity

Answer: (B)

Christopher Columbus's primary goal for Hispaniola was indeed to return home with vast amounts of gold. Upon his arrival in the New World, Columbus was motivated by the pursuit of wealth, which was commonly sought by explorers during the Age of Exploration. The Spanish monarchy had funded his voyage with the expectation of finding gold and other riches, which would benefit Spain both economically and politically. Columbus's interactions with the local Taino people reflected this ambition as he sought to gather information about gold sources and treasure, and he reported back to the Crown about the possibilities of wealth to be found in the lands he explored.

While other objectives such as converting the indigenous people to Christianity or establishing alliances were also part of European colonial aims, the direct and immediate goal for Columbus in Hispaniola was to locate and accumulate gold to bring back to Spain, which would secure his legacy and ensure further support for future expeditions.