What did the Spanish hope to gain from Columbus's voyage?

Spain was hoping to enhance its wealth from the voyage of Christopher Columbus.  The crown wanted to chart a western route to India and the lucrative spice and luxury goods trade.  The Portuguese had already charted a route around the southern part of Africa and held a monopoly in that direction.  Columbus convinced Spain that a western route could be charted.  Queen Isabella agreed to fund an expedition in the hopes that Spain could map...

Spain was hoping to enhance its wealth from the voyage of Christopher Columbus.  The crown wanted to chart a western route to India and the lucrative spice and luxury goods trade.  The Portuguese had already charted a route around the southern part of Africa and held a monopoly in that direction.  Columbus convinced Spain that a western route could be charted.  Queen Isabella agreed to fund an expedition in the hopes that Spain could map out a new path to the eastern markets.  Once the Spanish realized that the lands Columbus sailed to were "unclaimed" territories, they wished to secure colonies that would enrich them with resources and markets.  The Spanish also wished to convert the native peoples to Christianity which would grow the power of the Roman Catholic Church.