The Europeans eventually realized that the riches of the New World lay not in the spice trade but in
A) furs and fishing.
B) agriculture.
C) the gold and silver of Indian civilizations.
D) enslaving the Indians.
E) establishing commercial trade with the Aztecs and Incas.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Europeans eventually realized that the riches of the New World lay not in the spice trade but in the gold and silver of Indian civilizations. Gold and silver were highly valued in Europe and the Spanish in particular became obsessed with mining these precious metals in the New World. This led to the exploitation and subjugation of indigenous peoples and the establishment of colonial empires based on the extraction of resources.

The Europeans Eventually Realized That the Riches of the New