Why did the Spanish explore the Americas?

After the voyages of Christopher Columbus, when the notion that a new continent had been "discovered"  - from an european point of view  - in reality and not merely a region of the Western Indies, the Spanish crown continued the exploration to look for gold and other wealth and for conquering lands. Because of its involvement in the endless dynastic wars of Europe and the quest for power itself, Spain needed to find new sources of riches.

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it provided for selection of government employees through competitive examinations. it also made it unlawful to fire or demote covered employees for political reasons or to require them to give political service or payment, and it set up a civil service commission to enforce the law.

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